The Irish team pursuiters have taken the gold medal in the UCI World Cup in St Petersburg; an incredible achievement by Ireland’s fastest ever quartet.
Alice Sharpe,
Lara Gillespie, Mia Griffin and Kelly Murphy teamed up seamlessly to beat home
team Russian in the gold-silver ride-off today.
While the
Russians had home advantage, the Irish women had too much power and it was they
who claimed gold.
It is Ireland’s first medal, of any colour, in this event at a World Cup or any major international meeting of championship and represents a very significant juncture in the development of this team.
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In the final this
evening, the Irish rode the 4km in a time of 4:21.411, which was just outside
their national record of 4:21.368. The Russians clocked a time of
4:23.276 in the final.
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Earlier today the
Irish women threw down the gauntlet in qualifying when they were fastest team
on the track in St Petersburg, clocking a time of 4:24.475.
Russia were second fastest, with a time of 4:29.280. Switzerland were 3rd fastest, with 4:37.810. Belarus were 4th fastest, in a time of 4:41.055, and Ireland went on to beat them in the next round.
While Ireland then went on to meet, and beat, Russia in the gold-silver decider, the Swiss team faced the Belarus in the bronze medal ride, with Switzerland prevailing.
More to come.
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