*Ireland on the move in Minsk: The Irish women significantly lowered their own national record yesterday and they were able to go very close to that time again today*

Ireland's team pursuit women may have gone out of the UCI World Cup in Minsk today but there were more clear signs of significant progress.

Yesterday they shattered their own national record in qualifying, finishing 7th of the eleven teams in a time of 4:25.389.

That was close to four seconds faster than the Irish record of 4:29.148 they set at the World Championships last season.

Their ride yesterday saw them progress to the next round today, when they faced Belgium.

The Belgian quartet were faster; with a time of 4:21:097. That was more than four seconds up on the Irish time.

However, the Irish women still rode a time of 4:25:543. That was marginally slower than their time in qualifying yesterday and more than three seconds faster than their fastest time before this World Cup.

The fact that they rode so much faster yesterday and today than they had ever done before was also notable because of personnel changes to the group.

*The Irish women, with new names in the line-up, have made a significant breakthrough in Minsk; going much faster and doing it twice*

Lara Gillespie, a star junior over the past two seasons who has just stepped up into the U23-elite ranks in recent weeks, was yesterday part of the team pursuit race effort for the first time.

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And today when the Irish went up against Belgium, Emily Kay was drafted into the team to replace Mia Griffin as Griffin was riding the scratch race in Minsk today.

Cycling Ireland has now successfully integrated two new young riders into the set-up and the team has immediately gone significantly faster; a great sign for the future.

The event is a highly competitive one and there is much work to be done before Ireland can threaten for medals.

However, after a disappointing outing at the recent Europeans, these past two days in Minsk strongly suggest this is a rapidly improving group with a lot more to give.

The new face in the Ireland team, Emily Kay (24) is a former Team GB rider who has been making her debut for Ireland at this World Cup.

She won gold at the junior Worlds in 2013 with the British team pursuit squad, which broke the senior world record at the time in qualifying and again in the final.

Kay has since won gold in World Cups, in the team pursuit and omnium, as well as four medals at the elite Europeans - one bronze and three silvers - along with a bronze in the Commonwealth Games.