Ireland's team pursuiters are through to the next round at the European Championships while Ireland's first BMX rider to compete at this level, Ryan Henderson, has also nailed his debut ride.
In the BMX Freestyle opening round Henderson finished 11th of the 29-rider field from across Europe and now advances to the final of the competition. Henderson recorded scores of 66 and 66.04 for an average of 66.02.
His advancing to the final - and comparing so well across this level of international competition - is a massive boost for Irish BMX, which has been growing in popularity over the last decade.
In the team pursuit, the foursome of Emily Kaye, Alice Sharpe, Mia Griffin and Kelly Murphy recorded a time of 4.26:028 for the 4km distance. That time is some way off their national record of 4:19.738, set at the UCI World Cup in Glasgow in April last year.
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However, the top teams were all off their top times on what is a temporary track in Munich erected for these championships. The Irish women were 6th fastest today in the nine-team field. Germany were fastest - 4:14.688 - with Italy next (4:16.510) and then France (4:18.074) with Great Britain next (4:19.800).
With the fastest eight teams to qualify to the first round, Ireland are through and they will face off against Poland tomorrow morning for what will be their second and final outing in the competition.
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In terms of where the medals will go, it is the four fastest teams today who will be pitted against each other tomorrow in the first round in heats 3 and 4. And the outcome of those two races will determine the line-up for the gold-silver and bronze medal rides.
While the Europeans are underway in Germany - for track, road and BMX - the Irish paracycling team is competing in their World Championships in Canada, where Gary O'Reilly and Declan Slevin got the Irish campaign underway today.
O'Reilly went very close to a medal in the MH5TT when he finished in 4th position, just three seconds off bronze, while Slevin was 12th in the H3 TT.
Team Pursuit Qualifying
