Mark Downey goes clear with Team GB star and world champion Jonathan Dibben at the Europeans and they would claim gold and silver (Photo courtesy Cycling Ireland)
Having been a central part of national selections on the track in recent years, there will be no Irish team pursuit line-up at the UCI World Cup in Holland this weekend.
The men's team pursuit has fallen by the wayside of late for Ireland and the absence of the women's event from the schedule results in something of a new feel to the Irish team.
However, there are still six riders in the Irish selection and based on past performances some can podium at this level if they got a break or two.
“After a strong start in Glasgow last weekend, we are looking forward to getting more experience in Apeldoorn in this second World Cup,” Cycling Ireland technical director Brian Nugent said.
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Having been one of the top road sprinters on the UK pro criterium scene in recent years, Felix English continues his return to the track fold.
He gets the Irish campaign underway in Apeldoorn this weekend when he tackles the men’s scratch race tomorrow, Friday.
A 4th place at the World Cup in Hong Kong in January and 5th in the European Championships last month are a reflection of with he can do, and with the best to come hopefully.
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Lydia Boylan is national road race champion but will be in World Cup action on the track this weekend.
Also tomorrow Lydia Boylan – the multi elite Irish title winner on road and track – is in action in the omnium.
On Saturday Olympian Shannon McCurley is up in the women’s keirin, having taken a very strongly 7th in the opening World Cup round in Glasgow last weekend.
In the men’s sprint Eoin Mullen is also in action on Saturday, as is the prolific Mark Downey who takes on the points race.
Downey has won medals in the junior and U23 Europeans, two years ago and earlier this year respectively. He has a big engine and one of the best racer’s brains in Irish cycling; a man to be watched closely in the next few seasons.
And on Sunday, after her superb 4th place in the points race on her World Cup debut in Glasgow last weekend, Lydia Gurley is back in the same bunch race looking for more scalps.
Having gotten the World Cup underway for Ireland, English will also conclude the team’s weekend of racing on Sunday in the Madison, where he will partner the prolific Mark Downey.
Nov, 11th-13th: UCI World Cup
Irish in action in Holland
- Friday, Nov 11th: Felix English in men’s scratch race and Lydia Boylan in women’s omnium.
- Saturday, Nov 12th: Shannon McCurley in women’s keirin, Eoin Mullen in men’s sprint and Mark Downey in men’s points race.
- Sun, Nov 13th: Lydia Gurley in women’s points race, Felix English and Mark Downey in men’s Madison.
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