Tough Competition in Mexico Put Team Pursuits to Test at First World Cup of the Season
Cycling Ireland’s male and female Team Pursuits were tested by the World’s Best in the opening round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Series in Guadalajara, Mexico, last night. Both teams made their debut at the European Track Championships in Guadeloupe last month, and last night faced even tougher competition, with 22 teams entered in the women’s event, and 27 in the men’s. At the end of the qualifying rounds the teams finished 17th and 23rd respectively. Martyn Irvine, Caroline Ryan and Eoin Mullen are in action today, with the Omnium event and Kerin dominating proceedings. This is the second qualifying event for the Olympic Games, with valuable points available. The World Cup runs from 7th – 9th November.
The women’s Team Pursuit were first in action, starting in Heat 1, setting a fast pace for the opening kilometre. However, as the 4km time trial progressed the newly formed quartet faded slightly, finishing in an eventual 17th position, with a time of 4.39.462. The fastest time of 4.20.066 was recorded by GB. In the men’s event, again the Irish team were first in action, recording a time of 4.11.618, just outside the existing Irish National Record of 4.11.587. In this event Australia set the fastest time of 3.57.132.
Speaking after the race Head Coach Brian Nugent said “Today was a steep learning curve for both teams. The standard is high here and if you want to be competitive you have to push hard. Today both teams committed to that and in doing so ended up in trouble near the end of the ride. They are learning the hard way and it isn’t getting any easier for the next few months. The important thing, though, is that they are learning, and they have time to learn.”
Today Ryan is first in action at 3pm (Irish time) in the Women’s Omnium, with Irvine and Mullen competing shortly after. This is the first round in the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Series, and runs from the 7th – 9th November.
| Day 0 – Friday 7th November 2014 | Results | ||
| 19.00 Irish Time | Caroline Ryan Lydia Boylan Lauren Creamer Melanie Spath | Women Team Pursuit - Qualifier | 17 (4.39.462) |
| 21.30 Irish Time | Martyn Irvine Ryan Mullen Cormac Clarke Javan Nulty | Men Team Pursuit – Qualifier | 23 (4.11.618) |
| Day 1 – Saturday 8th November 2014 |
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| 15.00 Irish Time | Caroline Ryan | Women Omnium I Scratch Race |
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| 16.20 Irish Time | Martyn Irvine | Men Omnium I Scratch Race |
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| 17.50 Irish Time | Caroline Ryan | Women Omnium II Individual Pursuit |
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| 19.20 Irish Time | Martyn Irvine
| Men Omnium II Individual Pursuit |
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| 20.40 Irish Time | Eoin Mullen | Men Keirin Round 1 |
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| 22.05 Irish Time | Eoin Mullen | Men Keirin Repechage 1 |
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| 01.02 Irish Time | Caroline Ryan | Women Omnium III Elimination Race |
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| 01.59 Irish Time | Eoin Mullen | Men Keirin Round 2 |
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| 02.33 Irish Time | Eoin Mullen | Men Keirin Finals |
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| 2.58 Irish Time | Martyn Irvine | Men Omnium III Elimination Race |
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