Caroline Ryan books double berth at World Champs after Mexico World Cup opener

Job Done: Caroline Ryan got enough world qualification points in Mexico yesterday to secure her place in the points race at the World Championships in Colombia in the New Year.

It won’t go down as one of the best results of her international career, but 13^th place in the points race on the opening day of the World Cup in Mexico has secured Caroline Ryan’s in the event at the World Championships next year.

And some strong attacking riding mid race yesterday also suggests for former World Championship bronze medallist is building some nice form ahead of that show down in Colombia starting in late February.

The 20km points race at the World Cup in Aguascalientes was won by Stephanie Pohl of Germany from Canadian Jasmin Glaesser and Czech rider Jarmila Machacova.

The main goal for the Irish team in Aguascalientes is to gain qualification points for the World Championships next February.

Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent said he was delighted Ryan had confirmed her place in the event at the Worlds, which she adds to her slot in the individual pursuit before this weekend’s racing in Mexico even got underway.

Nugent also said his charge had ridden a smart race to make a key move that on another day may have proven the winning of the race.

“Caroline is riding with intelligence now, and on another day the move that she made today, at the right time, with the right people, would have worked out”.

He said the squad was looking forward to more racing today, Friday, when Ryan would be in pursuit action and Eoin Mullen would get his meeting underway in the sprint.

Ryan has spent much of 2013 at the top of the UCI rankings for the individual pursuit, and though she has slipped to number 2 in recent weeks a good performance in that event in Aguascalientes could see her move back to that coveted top spot. She is just 10 points behind top ranked rider Rebecca Wisiak of Australia.