Emer Heverin, in the middle of the pack in the green of Ireland, is the new junior European points race chanpion (Photo: Tommaso Pelagalli-Sprint Cycling Agency)
Emer Heverin of Team Ireland is the new junior European points race champion after dominating the Continental title race in Germany this afternoon.
The 17-year-old from Belfast won a silver in the junior women's omnium yesterday and then saw Seth Dunwoody win the U23 men's points race.
And now, after that double medal day for Ireland, Heverin has hit the big time today, Saturday.
She has added the points race gold medal to her silver from yesterday, in what is her first season as a junior.
She went into the final sprint today, where double points were on offer, in 2nd place and just one point off the leader, setting up a really close finish.
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However, in the end it wasn't close at all; Heverin moving towards the front of the pack with two laps to go and remaining there until deep into the last lap.
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She then squeezed on the pedals, putting out a burst of power that carried he away from her rivals to win the final sprint.
That ensured she collected the maximum 10 points and took the gold medal; winning in by a huge margin.
Heverin, who is also the Irish junior road race and TT champion, and elite criterium champion, ended the race with 20 points, after winning three sprints - sprint 2, 5 and 7.
She claimed the gold from Olga Kostina of Russia - who was leading going into the last sprints - on 11 points. Imke Menting of the Netherlands took the bronze, on 10 points.
More to come.
