Caroline Ryan on her way to another national champion's jersey during the National Time Trial Championships in Westmeath last night (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Caroline Ryan stormed to victory in the elite women’s National Time Trial Championships last night; the Irish international winning by almost 20 seconds from second-placed Lauren Creamer (Pearl Izumi Sport).
The ex-international rower said she was a little apprehensive before the start but was thrilled to take the gold medal.
“I was delighted with it; it was hard-fought, like it is every year,” she said.
“All my training has been sprint-based and gym-based with the training and I was a bit worried going in yesterday, but I was so happy to pull it out.”
She said she rode as hard as she possibly could.
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“I gave it 100 per cent,” she said.
“I’ve been in the gym a lot and it’s all focussed on the World Cup qualifiers now, with the aim of qualifying for the Olympics in Rio.
“We’ve changed my training completely; time trialling is completely different from a flying 250 and 500 metre sprint, which is what I’ve been focussing on.
“You have to sacrifice it (endurance) when you do the sprint stuff but the sprint has been coming on and that’s the main thing.
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“But the nationals are important and I love racing them and I love to do my best. Lauren (Creamer) put up a good fight, she pushed me all the way and she rode a great race so to beat her was fantastic.”
Ryan has opted out of the road race tomorrow to focus her attention on track, which will no doubt come as a relief to many on the start-line tomorrow.
“I’d love to ride it but I can’t,” she said.
“I entered but we’re deciding to focus on the Track Worlds and it’s two weeks to the first World Cup qualifier, in Sundrive Road for the International track GP, so I need to focus on that.
“I’m flying to Spain on Monday for a training camp and the road race wouldn’t fit in with what I’m doing. I’d love if it did but sometimes you can’t do everything.”
Ryan will link up with the Irish juniors and U23 teams in Alaro, Majorca, who are putting the final touches on preparations for next month’s European Championships.
Caroline Ryan with her bronze medal from the points race at the World Track Championships in Melbourne in 2012. She has her sights set on the Rio Olympics now.
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