Paralympic and Double World Champions on the road Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal have qualified for the bronze medal final in the W B Tandem Individual Pursuit at the UCI 2018 Para-cycling Track World Championships today.


Their time of 3.36.776 over the 3km race of truth was enough to rank them third, with bronze within their grasps tonight. The duo will compete against New Zealand who finished 5 seconds adrift in fourth with 3.41.509.


In the men’s event, Peter Ryan and Sean Hahessy finished 8th in the M B Tandem Individual Pursuit, with a time of 4.25.505 for their 4km race. The World Championships take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from the 22-25 March.

Dunlevy and McCrystal have proven their prowess on the road, dominating on world level last year in both the road races and time trials. This year they have switched their attention back to the track and are already guaranteed a higher finish position than their 5th place at the Paralympic Games.


“That was a strong rider there,” said Dunlevy after the qualifiers, “we didn’t know what to expect. We were really up for the gold/silver ride off – we always aim high. We didn’t get that but we are in the bronze medal ride off.”


“I feel it went really well,” added McCrystal, “it’s a year and a half since we last raced on the track, and you don’t know what to expect – but we have trained well and I feel it was a solid ride – there are always improvements. We are in the bronze final – we are going to put our heads down for a few hours, recover and go again.”


The Irish bike will be competing against New Zealand’s Amanda Cameron and Hannah van Kampen who pipped them for fourth place at the Paralympic Games, and they are not taking bronze for granted, despite their 5 second lead ahead of the race.


“We know the New Zealand girls will up their game, but we will as well,” stressed a determined Dunlevy, “we will work on a few things that didn’t happen there - I’m looking forward to racing later and hoping to come away with a bronze medal.”


The bronze medal final takes place at approximately 8pm this evening, Irish time. Also in action is Colin Lynch in the 1km and the Scratch Race qualifiers.


Read more about Katie-George Dunlevy’s cycling journey HERE. The UCI 2018 Para-cycling Track World Championships take place in the Velódromo do Rio, Brazil from the 22nd – 25th March.


RESULTS


W B 3km Individual Pursuit qualifying

First Great Britain – 3.32.151

Second Belgium – 3.34.149

Third Ireland – 3.36.776

Fourth New Zealand – 3.41.509


M B 3km Individual Pursuit qualifying

First Spain – 4.11.037

Second Great Britain – 4.11.30

Third Netherlands – 4.12.493

Fourth Spain – 4.15.889

Eighth Ireland – 4.25.505