The Irish team pursuit line-up has beaten Great Britain in the bronze medal ride-off at the European Track Championships in Switzerland.
Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy, Emily Kay and Mia Griffin broke the national record on the way to this evening's medal-winning ride in Grenchen.
They clocked a new Irish record of 4:21.202 in the first round earlier today, lowering their previous marker of 4:21.368.
While the Irish beat Great Britain for the bronze, Germany took the gold medal after beating the Italians in the gold-silver ride.
The Irish women add today's Europeans bronze to the UCI World Cup gold they took in St Petersburg during the summer, when Kelly Murphy and Mia Griffin also won gold and bronze in the individual pursuit.
The team pursuit women opened their Europeans campaign yesterday when they were 3rd in qualifying, just six tenths of a second outside their national record.
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That ride ensured they went forward to the first round, where they met Italy and were beaten, but still broke the national record.
That result meant they progressed to meet Great Britain in the bronze medal ride-off while the Germans and Italians progressed to the gold-silver ride-off.
The Irish team’s time of 4:21.262 this evening was close to four seconds faster than Great Britain, who clocked a time of 4:24.904 for the 4km distance.
Team pursuit aside, JB Murphy, who won medals as a junior at the Europeans and Worlds, was in action today in Switzerland, where he competed in the points race.
He gained a lap with a solo move and then took another
lap with a group before finishing the title race in 5th place with 43 points.
Benjamin Thomas of France - the elite national champion in TT - claimed the gold medal with 81 points while Luri Leitao of Portugal took silver on 61 points. Vlas Shichkin of Russia claimed the bronze with 57 points.
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