Mullen, Knight and Foley get largest ever Irish track team underway at Euro Champs

Ryan Mullen is Ireland's star turn at these Euro Championships but he is by no means our only hope of a medal.

Ireland’s U23 riders Ryan Mullen and Dylan Foley and junior Josie Knight get Ireland underway today at the European Track Championships in Portugal.

With 13 riders in the national squad for the U23 and junior championships in Anadia, the team is the biggest ever Irish track squad assembled for a major championships.

Foley and Mullen are in action in the pursuit today, with Mullen having won a bronze in the event at these championships 12 months ago. He also took bronze in the scratch race.

Foley and Knight are in their first track championships at their respective U23 and junior categories.

Cycling Ireland head coach, Brian Nugent says a lot of progress has been made with the junior and U23 riders in recent years and he is hopeful of more of the same over the next week to Sunday when the Euros conclude.

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“Last year we had seven riders at this event, this year we have thirteen, we are fielding two team pursuit teams, and have expanded the programme to have riders racing across endurance and sprint events,” he said.

“We have just completed great preparation in Majorca for these championships. It is so exciting having so many riders of this quality here. We are now concentrating on Olympic Events, we are looking at Tokyo, and even sooner.”