Caroline Ryan in her ‘Richies BikeStore-Garda CC’ kit in domestic road racing action
Ireland’s World Track Championships bronze medallist, Caroline Ryan is set to increase her level of competition on the road during a stint with the UK women’s trade team ‘Matrix Fitness-Prendas’.
Ryan will line out for the team later this month in the UCI 1.2 ranked Valkenburg Hills Classic.
The race is one of the biggest one-day women’s races in Holland, with a very testing route that takes in the famed Cauberg climb used for the finish of the Amstel Gold pro classic.
‘Matrix-Fitness Prendas’ team manager Stefan Wyman said Ryan’s ride in the Worlds in Melbourne had put her on the world stage and had caught the eye of a lot of people in the sport.
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“We’re really pleased to be able to give Caroline the chance to race in Europe as she continues her build up to London 2012,” said Wyman.
“I think it’ll be great to have her with our young squad for the event and I’m sure everyone will benefit”
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While Ryan won a magnificent bronze in the points race in Melbourne, she has yet to qualify for the London Olympics. There is no points race at the Olympics.
She rode the UCI 1.2 Celtic Chrono TT in Belfast last weekend in search of Olympic qualification TT points but came up short of what she is capable of, finishing 11th. That was perhaps not a massive surprise given her focus on the track since the end of last year’s road season.
“The Celtic Chrono was a big success; everyone has been so enthusiastic about it that I think the guys will have to run it again next year,” Ryan said.
“I wasn’t delighted with my own race; I was off my normal pace. But the body has been coming back around slowly since the Track Worlds and it took a while to get the road legs going. I know they’ll come around soon.”
She rides a UCI 1.1 TT – the Chrono Gatineau – in Canada this Saturday, when she will have another chance to secure ranking points.
After that she flies back to Belgium to join up with the ‘Matrix-Fitness Prendas’ team for the Valkenburg Hills Classic on May 25th.
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