Ryan shows class in first international omnium outing at Euro Track Champs

Caroline Ryan puts the hammer down in the omnium points race in Apeldoorn

Caroline Ryan has taken a key step in her development as an international track rider by showing genuine promise in the women’s omnium at the European Track Championships in Apeldoorn, Holland, at the weekend.

The time trial and pursuit specialist was in Holland to focus on her attempt to qualify for the team pursuit at the London Olympics with Ciara Horne and Sinead Jennings.

However, with the team pursuit completed on the opening day of the meeting last Friday, Ryan’s schedule enabled her to also enter the six-event omnium, which took place over Saturday and Sunday.

The Cunga rider finished 13^th in the final standings of the 18 starters. Her best result was in the individual pursuit, her speciality, where she finished seventh.

The Ireland international came very close to pulling off a big result in the points race. She was just yards off lapping the rear of the field when a chase began behind that gradually reeled her in.

Had she managed to lap the field - like Martyn Irvine in the scratch race in the men’s omnium - her position in the final standings would have been considerably higher.

Ireland track coach Brian Nugent said Ryan had made great strides in the omnium of late. He believed this would aid her development, not only on the track but also on the road.

Ryan, a former rower of some note, has limited experience in riding in a bunch on the track so the competition in Apeldoorn will have assisted her greatly in that regard.