Kelly Murphy is now the top-ranked individual pursuiter in the world after her success over the past few months. Ireland's other leading individual pursuiter, Mia Griffin, is 3rd in the latest rankings.
World and European individual pursuit champion, Lisa Brennauer of Germany, is in 2nd place in the rankings in between the two Irish women.
Murphy is now on top of the rankings with 1,940 points compared to Brennauer in 2nd on 1,600 points, while Griffin is next on 1,520 points.
Murphy and Griffin are two of the key riders in the Irish team pursuit set-up at present and they have both also been riding the individual pursuit event at UCI World Cup meetings and at major championships.
Murphy picked up 800 points for winning the individual pursuit at the UCI World Cup meeting in St Petersburg in July, with Griffin 3rd in that event. At the same meeting they were part of the Irish team pursuit line-up that won gold.
Advertisement
Related News
As well as he individual pursuit victory in Russia, Murphy scored another 100 points for winning the Irish individual pursuit title at the National Track Championships in Dublin in August.
Earlier this month she scored 390 points for 6th at the Europeans and took another 650 points for 6th at the Worlds last week, where she lowered her own national record.
Brennauer was part of Germany's gold medal-winning team pursuit line-up at the Olympics and the Worlds. She also won the individual pursuit title at both the recent Europeans and Worlds, scoring 600 and 1,000 points respectively.
Brennauer has been focused on the team pursuit of late because, unlike the individual pursuit, it is an Olympic event. That focus on team pursuit in Olympic year means the Europeans and Worlds were the only two meetings where the German rode the individual pursuit this season.
Griffin picked up 640 of her points for her bronze medal win in St Petersburg in July and then scored 330 points for 8th at the Europeans and 550 points for 8th in last week's Worlds.
In the team pursuit rankings, Ireland are now ranked 5th on 4,160 points after winning gold in St Petersburg in July and bronze at the Europeans earlier this month. The Germans are on top, on 6,700 points, followed by Canada (4,600), Italy (4,580) and Great Britain (4,570).
Individual pursuit rankings: Top 15
