[wpbrad id=127]

Xeno Young into gold medal ride-off at Euro Champs

 

Xeno Young into gold medal ride-off at Euro Champs

 

With the joy of JB Murphy’s surprise silver medal at the European Championships having lifted everyone in the Irish camp, another medal has been won today.

And this time it will be gold or silver.

Xeno Young finished 2nd in qualifying in the junior individual pursuit in Portugal this morning.

And that means he goes into the ride-off later that will decide who takes gold and silver.

Young blasted around the track in Portugal in 3:19, a new Irish junior recent for the 3km event.

A Russian rider topped the standings and did a 3:16, meaning Young has his work cut out for him later.

But he knows he will come away from these championships with either silver or gold from the pursuit.

It is an event in which Young finished fourth last summer, just outside the medals.

The UEC Junior and U23 Track European Championships is taking place in the Sangalhos Velodrome in Anadia, Portugal. It began on Tuesday and concludes on Sunday.

Yesterday JB Murphy won a silver medal despite never having race on a velodrome before.

The Kildare man, a cyclocross international and very strong road rider, had his first training ride on an indoor velodrome just four weeks ago.

And yesterday’s junior men’s elimination race in Portugal was his maiden competitive event on an indoor track.

Murphy focussed on staying at the front in the elimination race and survived until the very end.

It came down to fight between himself and Michele Gazzoli; the Italian proving too fast for Ireland’s Murphy and taking the gold.

More to follow.