Cycling Ireland's high performance director, Iain Dyer, has said the Irish team's bid to qualify in several track events for the Paris Olympics is going to plan with two big dates to come.
While the team pursuit women began as an development, even experimental line-up, almost six years ago they have made incredible progress and look set to qualify multiple cycling berths at the Olympics.
However, Dyer has cautioned while the situation at present looks good, there are challenges ahead and some big tests following the team's recent 4th place at the Europeans in the Netherlands.
“The team coped fantastically well with a tough first day in team pursuit at the Euros and bounced back really strongly to finish fourth," he said of the line-up crashing on the first day but getting on with the task.
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"This keeps our Olympic qualification in TP, Madison and Omnium on track with two big Nations Cups to come. Hopefully the team can continue this momentum in Adelaide and we can explore our line up and race strategy further in both TP and bunch racing events.”
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Dyer was speaking as the Irish women are about go go into battle again at the Nations Cup in Adelaide, where they will be on the track tomorrow.
The team pursuit line-up now consists of Alice Sharpe, Lara Gillespie, Kelly Murphy, Mia Griffin and Erin Creighton; the latter having stepped up to the squad over the past 12 months or so as reserve.
If the team pursuit line-up qualifies for the Games, they will also qualify for the madison. There are places for ten teams in the team pursuit at the Paris Olympics, with Ireland currently ranked 9th by a very decent points buffer.
At the Adelaide Nations Cup while the team pursuit will be the priority, the Irish riders will also compete in other events. Creighton will be in the elimination race action on the opening day.
Sharpe and Griffin will combine for the women's madison on the second day of action while Gillespie once again takes on the omnium on Sunday after her 4th place at the recent Europeans.
