Ryan storms to World Cup medal ride-off in Mexico; Mullen breaks Irish sprint record

A really strong pursuit ride at the World Cup in Mexico has put Caroline Ryan into a head-to-head ride off for a bronze medal.

By Brian Canty

Ireland’s Caroline Ryan will race for bronze in the 3km individual pursuit at the UCI Track World Cup in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in the early hours of tomorrow morning after storming into the ride-off with a fantastic display this evening, Friday.

Ryan has medalled at a major championships before, taking bronze in the points race at the World Championships in Melbourne last year. But this is the first time she has made a medal ride-off at a World Cup and comes just week after Martyn Irvine took World Cup gold in the points race in Manchester.

Now ranked second in the world in the pursuit and having spent most of the year in the top slot, it’s Ryan's favoured event on the boards. But she will have it all to do against Anna Solovey of the Ukraine in the medal head-to-head.

Ryan clocked the fourth fastest time in qualifying earlier today in a season’s best of 3.34.668, just 0.15 off her personal best.

She was quicker than her medal rival through the 2km mark in qualifying but the Ukrainian woman finished strongly, besting Ryan by 1.9 seconds by the finish.

The bronze ride-off starts at 1.45am tomorrow, Saturday, Irish time.

Meanwhile, Eoin Mullen set a new personal best and Irish record in the 200m sprint at the Mexico meeting today, clocking a stunning time of 9.834 seconds which was enough for 32nd place. He beat his previous Irish record of 9.965seconds which he set at the World Cup in Mexico 11 months ago.

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Cycling Ireland head coach, Brian Nugent said both riders had put in really strong performances.

“Caroline recovered well from the points race last night, and performed very well this morning. It’ll be close this evening in the final, but we have a plan, and we will focus on the delivery of that. Eoin had a great race this morning, and is continuing to set PBs. He’s making great progress.”

Incidentally, the world record in Mullen's sprint event was today smashed by Francois Pervis of France who stopped the clock at 9.347seconds.

Aran Islands man Mullen is also in action tomorrow in the men’s keirin at 6.55pm Irish time. The final, should he make it, is due to get underway at 2am on Sunday, Irish time.

Ryan was in action yesterday in the points race where she finished 13th and sealed her qualification in that event for the World Championships in Colombia in the New Year. She had already qualified in the pursuit for Colombia before this weekend's meeting got underway.