Xeno Young and Robyn Stewart raced strongly today at the final round of the Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup season, which runs from the 19th – 21st January in Minsk, Belarus. Young finished 11th in the Individual Pursuit in a time of 4.28.164, within 10 seconds of a medal. Stewart was 14th in the Sprint with a time of 11.336, qualifying to the 1/8 finals.


Young won silver medals in the Individual Pursuit at both the World and European Championships last year, as a junior rider, and is now focused on the Commonwealth Games which take place in Australia in April. As a junior the distance for the Individual Pursuit is 3km, and the Powerhouse Sport 18-year-old has transitioned well to the elite ranks pacing himself well in the now 4km race of truth.


In the Sprint, Stewart scored her best World Cup result to date, progressing out of the qualifying rounds with a time of 11.336. In the 1/16 rounds the Scotland based rider beat Russia’s Natalia Antonova moving into the 1/8 final. Former multi-World Champion Simona Krupeckaite from Lithuania powered ahead in this round, knocking out Stewart before winning silver in the gold medal final.


Speaking after the race Stewart was happy with her result saying – “I’m delighted with my performance today, but I know that I’ve more in there. I’m pleased to see progress! I’ve really enjoyed myself too – which is what it’s all about.”


Stewart will be in action again tomorrow – “I’m looking forward to my debut in my first World Cup Keirin tomorrow also.” This World Cup serves as valuable training for Commonwealth Games in April; having confirmed her place on the team earlier this month.


Felix English will be in action in the Omnium tomorrow also, a multi event competition where the winner is the person who accumulates the most points across four events.


This is the final major competition for the Irish team before the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn at the end of February. Over the next couple of weeks, the number of places that Ireland has qualified for the World Championships will be announced.


RESULTS:


Men’s Individual Pursuit

Gold: Charlie Tanfield (GBR - Team KGF) 4.15.313

Silver: Ivo Oliveira (Portugal) 4.17.522

Bronze: Alexander Evtushenko (Russia - Lokosphinx) 4.19.424

11th: Xeno Young (Ireland)


Women’s Sprint

Gold: Pauline Sophie Grabosch (Germany)

Silver: Simona Krupeckaite (Lithuania)

Bronze: Nicky Degrendele (Belgium)

14th Robyn Stewart (Ireland)



SCHEDULE

Sunday 21st January

Men’s Omnium

Felix English

Women's Keirin

Robyn Stewart