On the up: Mark Downey has taken silver at the European Championships, saying he can't believe he's done it again after getting a junior medal two years ago (Photo with thanks to Cycling Ireland)
Having added another silver medal at a major championships to his palmares, Irish rider Mark Downey has said he owes his success in the U23 points race at the European Track Championships in Italy to everyone who has supported him.
“I can’t believe it, it’s amazing; I was sitting third with 10 laps to go, I saw the French guy was under pressure so I knew it was time to go,” he said of Benjamin Thomas who finished fourth.
He added he was keeping a close eye on world champion Jonathan Dibben of Great Britain.
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“I went with Dibben, I knew he would go, so it was a case of all or nothing – I emptied the tank. I wanted to prove the medal I won as a junior wasn’t a fluke.”
Downey went clear with Team GB star and world champion Jonathan Dibben and they were 1st and 2nd; a great result for the very popular young Irishman (Photo courtesy Cycling Ireland)
Downey won the silver in the junior points race at the Europeans two years ago and said last night’s event was punishing.
“It was like a motorbike race; just on on on! But I knew I was on a good day. I felt really relaxed it was one of those freak of nature days where I could go all day.
“I’m sandwiched between a world champion and a defending champion (Raman Ramanau of Belorussia); not bad for a wee guy from Banbridge against these guys from big systems.
“This result is a group effort, I’m the last piece of the puzzle; this medal is not just me. All the support has been amazing.
“I tried for a result in the pursuit, and couldn’t get it, so today I didn’t want to let anyone down. Cycling Ireland has been brilliant – everyone can celebrate this as much as me.”
Those who have been away on teams with him say Downey has a rare combination of talent, work ethic and intelligence in the way he races (Photo courtesy Cycling Ireland)
And while set to ride the Madison on Sunday with Fintan Ryan, Downey said he determined to savour his result.
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“I’m going to enjoy this moment. These don’t happen very often, but tomorrow it’s back to reality. We have done a nice bit of work for the Madison, and I’m not going to let Fintan down.”
And the man who marshalled him to the result as he prepared within the Irish track set up just before these championships, top international rider and coach David Muntaner said Downey’s ride was “amazing” against such a quality field.
“It felt so good to get the medal, it’s my first medal as a coach, and I feel as happy as if I was the rider. Today everyone was good; Ciara, Josie and Tom also rode well, but didn’t have their day.”
Downey's performance are starting to look like Irish track legend Martyn Irvine's. Yet he is mainly a road rider (Photo courtesy Cycling Ireland)
Downey’s silver came just 24 hours after Irish teenage Xeno Young took 4th in the junior pursuit.
The same rider was last night in 6th place after the first of two days in the omnium event, with Muntaner saying he was impressed with the first-year junior.
“Xeno is lying 6th; he lost some points in the scratch race, but did a great individual pursuit," said Muntaner.
“He did the same time as yesterday, which is really important for the future, it’s a good sign that he can do the same time two days in a row,” he said in reference to Young’s ride in the stand alone individual pursuit event he was 4th in on Wednesday.
Downey split the world champion and last year's Europeans winner to take silver; a nice evening's work in any language.
“He did an amazing elimination race. It is a hard race and we weren’t expecting such a good result,” Muntaner added of Young.
“We were watching videos before the race and he did exactly what we wanted him to do. You couldn’t see that he didn’t have experience in it. He entered the omnium for experience, but I think he can do good.”
Also yesterday, in the women’s junior points race Ciara Doogan was 13th. Tom Knight was 14th in the men’s junior points race and Josie Knight did not finish the U23 race.
Today, Friday, Young will continue his campaign in the omnium, with three events left to complete.
Fintan Ryan and Ciara Doogan will begin their omniums. In the women’s U23 scratch race Autumn Collins will also be in action.
The championships, at the Montichiari Velodrome in the Brescia region of Italy, continue until Sunday.
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