Irish Tandem Qualify for Bronze Ride Off at Track World Championships


Paracyclists Storm to Strong Start in the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Mexico

Ireland’s tandem pairing of James Brown and Bryan McCrystal gave the performance of their lives in the Men’s Individual Pursuit at the UCI Paracycling Track World Championships today in Aguascalientes, Mexico, when they qualified for the Bronze Medal Ride off against USA with the third fastest time. While their time of 4.17.125 is faster than the World Record set by Australia at the Paralympic Games in London, it fell short of the Gold medal final in Mexico. The female tandem of Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal also performed outstandingly, finishing fifth in a new Irish record time of 3.31.963, and just 0.3 seconds outside the qualifying time for the ride off for Bronze.

In the Bronze medal final later tonight, Brown and McCrystal will meet the USA pairing of Rachfal and Swanson, who qualified in a time of 4.18.915. The USA tandem, coached by Andy Sparks, has a fast start, so a close race is guaranteed. Australia and Spain will compete for gold, with Australia claiming a new World Record in their qualifying heat, with a time of 4.11.213. With this being the first major track cycling competition on the UCI Paracycling calendar since the Paralympic Games in 2012, the racing was guaranteed to be fast.

Speaking after the Qualifying rounds Paracycling Coach Neill Delahaye said 

“Both tandems performed at their best, I could not have asked for more in terms of sheer physical effort. To break two National Records by that much affirms all the preparation went well, and they got it out when it counted. The girls are gutted not to have made the ride off by only 0.3seconds. However, for such a new pairing they performed exceptionally well. The lads are now refocusing for this evening. One more good performance like this morning and the lads will be hard to beat.”

 

The team has been acclimatising in Mexico for the past number of weeks, where the temperatures have been reaching 40 degrees. The male tandem will race for Bronze at approximately midnight Irish time.

The competition takes place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, between April 10th and 12th. 

 

RESULTS

Men’s B 4km Pursuit Qualification:

1.       FORMSTON Matt & CURRAN Michael (AUS) 4.11.213

2.       AVILA RODRIGUEZ Ignacio & FONT BERTOLI Joan (ESP) 4.12.633

3.       BROWN James & MCCRYSTAL Bryan (IRL) 4.17.125

4.       RACHFAL Clark & SWANSON David (USA) 4.18.915

Women’s B 3km Pursuit Qualification:

1.       FOY Emma & FAIRWEATHER Laura (NZL) 3.23.609

2.       GRAY Phillipa & YOUNG Kylie (NZL) 3.25.972

3.       TURNHAM Laura & HALL Corrine (GBR) 3.29.286

4.       KANUMA Yurie & TANAKA Mai (JPN) 3.31.617

5.       DUNLEVY Katie-George & MCCRYSTAL Eve (IRL) 3.31.963

 

SCHEDULE

 

Thursday 10th April:

 

17.30 Local Time (23.30 Irish Time) James Brown & Bryan McCrystal: Men’s B Pursuit Finals

 

Friday 11th April:

 

9.00 Local Time (15.00 Irish Time) Colin Lynch: Men’s C2 3km Pursuit Qualifiers

9.00 Local Time (15.00 Irish Time) Enda Smyth: Men’s C3 3km Pursuit Qualifiers

16.30 Local Time (20.30 Irish Time) Katie-George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal Women’s B 1km TT

16.30 Local Time (00.30 Irish Time) James Brown & Bryan McCrystal: Men’s B 1km TT

Approx 18.30 Local Time (02.30 Irish Time) Colin Lynch: Men’s C2 3km Finals

Approx 18.30 Local Time (02.30 Irish Time) Enda Smyth: Men’s C3 3km Finals

 

Saturday 12th April:

 

Approx 12.00 Local Time (18.00 Irish Time) Colin Lynch: Men’s C2 1km Time Trial

14.30 Local Time (20.30 Irish Time) Enda Smyth: Men’s C3 1km Time Trial

 

 

Official Results Website: http://www.eventosdeportivosidea.com/