Caroline Ryan came within touching distance of a World Championships medal in Colombia only to miss out in the dying seconds of the scratch race, but that performance has boosted her confidence rather than dented it.
Shane Stokes
Hours after she went agonisingly close to taking silver in the women’s scratch race at the World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia, Caroline Ryan has said she is convinced that she can fight for medals in her remaining two events.
Rather than being discouraged by the near miss, she recognises that she has the form to excel in the upcoming races, and is determined to make the most of her chances.
“My confidence is as good as it was yesterday,” she told stickybottle.
“I’m experienced enough to know that things could have worked out differently on another day. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the competition. I've two more chances to go out there and show what I can do.”
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After riding strongly throughout the event, Ryan attacked with seven laps remaining.
She was joined by the Belgian Kelly Druyts and the duo pulled clear. Ryan put in a big turn with four to go and appeared to pay for that afterwards, with Druyts inching ahead of her and, metre by metre, pulling away.
Ryan continued to drive on towards the line but was swamped on the final bend by the chasing riders.
It echoed what happened in last year’s event, when she attacked twelve laps from the end and led for several laps.
Eventually caught by defending champion Katarzyna Pawlowska (Poland) and by Sofia Arreola Navarro (Mexico), she slipped back and was caught inside the final 50 metres by the bunch, taking seventh.
While both races will have been a big frustration due to medals being tantalisingly close, Ryan’s strength is clear and her talent obvious.
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She picked up a fine bronze medal in the 2012 worlds points race and also holds the world number one slot in the UCI individual pursuit standings.
“My plan was to be active and stay in the race without doing too much work and that's what I did,” she said today, explaining how yesterday’s race played out.
“I found it comfortable moving with the flow of the racing and only working when I had to.
“It was a hard race and when I made the final move I found myself under pressure straight away. Kelly Druyts was flying and her kicks were just too much for me but I'm really happy with how I'm racing here.”
Asked if she would have changed anything in terms of tactics, she preferred to focus on how far she has come in the sport and to look forward to the chances ahead this week.
“There are always small things with hindsight, but I'm a far better racer than I was twelve months ago, both tactically and technically,” she said.
“One day the whole package with come together and I'll have the good legs to the finish. I’m happy with how I raced.”
Team coach Brian Nugent knows she is capable of a major result in Colombia. “Caroline has prepared really well for these champs and is in great shape, both physically and mentally,” he said prior to the scratch race.
“The recent breakthrough at the World Cup in Aguascalientes [where she took bronze in the individual pursuit – ed.] has given her a great boost in confidence. She believes that she can do well really well here. A top result here is what we are working towards.”
Ryan will compete in the individual pursuit tomorrow at 7pm Irish time, then will ride the 25 kilometre women’s points race on Saturday.
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