Xeno Young has won Ireland’s second silver medal at the UEC Junior and U23 Track European Championships in Portugal tonight, finishing behind Ivan Smirnov (Russia) in the gold medal final of the Men’s Junior Individual Pursuit.
Young’s 3.19.063 was the second fastest time in the Individual Pursuit qualifying rounds earlier today, guaranteeing the County Down man a European medal, and a chance to ride for gold. 2016 silver medallist, Smirvov, qualified for the ride off with 3.16.462, favourite for the title.
Speaking after the race, a relieved Young said: “I gave it everything. I knew going into it that if I raced my usual pace he would be faster, so I just went for it. I figured that if I blew up, I blew up, and it would be worth giving it a go.”
After leading for the first half of the race, the fast pace took its toll on Young, with the Russian moving into the gold medal position: “The last few laps were brutal! In that race, I did my slowest and fastest lap! I think my first kilometre was nearly a kilo record, but I’m really pleased with my medal, it feels good.”
“I’m really happy with how I went in the qualifiers, I paced it well, and now the medal is definitely a motivator for the rest of the races this week. I feel a lot more confident!”
Luke Smith finished 14th in the same race with a time of 3.27.255.
Limerick woman Autumn Collins was also in action today, in the U23 Women’s Sprint. Collins 200m time of 12.323 was enough to qualify her for the match sprints, where she was pitted against German powerhouse Pauline Grabosch, who progressed to the next round. The final standings in the Women’s U23 Sprint will see Collins in 16th place.
Tomorrow will be another big day for the Irish team, with Xeno Young back in action in the Men’s Junior Omnium, and Mark Downey competing in the Men’s U23 Points Race, an event in which he won silver last year. Nicole Gorry will also be racing, competing in the Women’s Junior Omnium, a competition consisting of four separate bunch races.
The UEC Junior and U23 Track European Championships take place in the Sangalhos Velodrome in Anadia, Portugal from the 18 – 23 July 2017.
| Day | Event | Athlete | RESULTS |
| Tuesday 18th July | Men’s Junior Team Pursuit | Shane Higgins JB Murphy Luke Smith Xeno Young | 10 4.20 |
| Tuesday 18th July | Men’s U23 Elimination Race | Fintan Ryan | 6 |
| Tuesday 18th July | Women’s Jun Scratch Race | Nicole Gorry | 10 |
| Tuesday 18th July | Men’s Jun Scratch Race | Shane Higgins | 14 |
| Wednesday 19th July | Men’s U23 Scratch Race | Fintan Ryan | 8 |
| Wednesday 19th July | Men’s Jun Elimination | JB Murphy | 2 Silver |
| Thursday 20th July | Women’s U23 Sprint | Autumn Collins | 16 |
| Thursday 20th July | Men’s Jun Individual Pursuit | Luke Smith Xeno Young | 14 3.27.255 2 Silver 3.19.063 q |
| Friday 21st July | Women’s Jun Omnium | Nicole Gorry | |
| Friday 21st July | Men’s Jun Omnium | Xeno Young | |
| Friday 21st July | Women’s Jun 500m | Nicole Gorry | |
| Friday 21st July | Men’s U23 Points | Mark Downey | |
| Saturday 22nd July | Men’s U23 Omnium | Mark Downey | |
| Saturday 22nd July | Women’s U23 500m | Autumn Collins | |
| Saturday 22nd July | Women’s Jun Points | Orla Harrison | |
| Saturday 22nd July | Men’s Jun Points | Luke Smith | |
| Sunday 23rd July | Women’s U23 Keirin | Autumn Collins | |
| Sunday 23rd July | Men’s Jun Madison | Xeno Young Luke Smith | |
| Sunday 23rd July | Men’s U23 Madison | Mark Downey Fintan Ryan |