Bumper international field set for UCI track meeting at Sundrive Rd, Dublin - first in 50 years

Eoin Mullen, top of shot, is just one of the Irish internationals in the field for Sundrive Rd tomorrow, Saturday; they will face some very stiff opposition from overseas visitors in races that will have World Champs qualification points on offer.

A large field with plenty of international flavour has signed on for the UCI-ranked track meeting on the track at Sundrive Rd in Dublin tomorrow, Saturday. The meeting is the first in 50 years to be held in Ireland with world governing body recognition.

Because it has secured that status, there are points on offer for those hoping to qualify for the World Track Champions next year thanks to recent restricting of the international calendar now sees some regional meetings carrying points.

The inclusion of the meeting on the Irish calendar comes after a purple patch for our riders at major championships. Caroline Ryan won a bronze medal at the World Track Championships in Melbourne last year while Martyn Irvine has since won two silver medals at UCI World Cups and take a World Championship gold and silver; the latter two accolades in the scratch and individual pursuit in Minsk this year.

Young Irish sprinted Eoin Mullen has also been making huge strides of late, qualifying for those recent World Championships and shaving more and more times off his personal bests very regularly. He is based at the UCI’s World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland.

Irvine is unfortunately still on the comeback trail after a bad crash in Taiwan in March when he fractured his femur. However, Ryan and Eoin Mullen will race this weekend and they will be joined by fellow Irish international Ryan Mullen, who took a silver medal at the Junior European Time Trial Championships last year.

The two Mullens are using this race as preparation for next week’s European U23 Track Championships in Portugal, for which they leave on Sunday. Caroline Ryan said all the Irish riders were really looking forward to being part of an international meeting at their home nation.

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“It is a real honour to be racing a UCI sanctioned event on our own track in Sundrive. I am feeling good after retaining my National Time Trial Title a few weeks ago, and am looking forward to taking on the other nations in front of home crowd for a change.”

Ryan faces tough competition from some of cycling’s top nations, including silver medallist from the Commonwealth Games, Charline Joiner, and up and coming Belgian star Else Belmans.

Eoin Mullen will line up against professionals like UK’s Jamie McCallum and 2012 World Champion Andy Tennant. Ryan Mullen will also face a similar tough test in his events.

Along with the international riders, Ireland’s best domestic riders will get a taste of the cream of the top over the five events on offer.

Racing kicks off at 10am and the full and packed programme guarantees exciting racing throughout the day, with good weather also on the cards. Sundrive Velodrome is located in the Eamonn Ceannt Park off Sundrive Road, and entry is free for anyone who wants to witness the world’s elite track cyclists in action.