An emotional Caroline Ryan in Melbourne yesterday
UCI World Track Championship bronze medallist, Caroline Ryan has said when she finished her points race in Melbourne yesterday she first realised she may have won a medal when she saw the reaction of the Irish camp trackside.
“At the finish everyone was cheering and I was looking up at the (score) board; I didn’t even realise I was in the medals, it was amazing,” she said.
Speaking to stickybottle from Australia this morning, Ryan added that when she went after what proved to be the winning move that gained a lap, she knew immediately the attack had the potential to put her into contention.
“I was really under pressure but I suppose it was doing that to everybody else as well, it was just a case of really digging in.”
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She said once she knew she had qualified for the Worlds after the World Cup meeting in Cali, Colombia, in December, all of her preparation was geared towards this week. While she competed at the London World Cup in February, she said she had done so while in the middle of preparing for Melbourne and had not tapered for London.
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“I didn’t see the performance I was capable of,” she said of her 10th place in the individual pursuit in London.
“I had already qualified for the Worlds and usually we are always chasing things, chasing points or qualification, so having already qualified it wouldn’t have made sense not to make the most of the opportunity.”
“Coming into this period I also had a few injuries that were clearing up and we got here strong and healthy and just settled into it. And it was just a case of staying calm and getting the legs going. I’m just delighted for Brian Nugent; to get this performance out of me in a points race…. I’m not the kind of rider who will be winning lots of sprints and, OK, while I’ve done a few of these (international points races) now I don’t have a massive amount of experience, so to get the result for the team….”.
The Bus Eireann and Cunga-sponsored rider said she was looking forward to her ride in the individual pursuit at the Worlds on Sunday and was also hopeful her medal yesterday would lead to the continuation of Cycling Ireland’s track programme so others could also benefit.
Ryan in a recent promo shot for her Bus Eireann sponsorship deal
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