Caroline Ryan's attacking approach to the omnium points race was a highlight in a testing weekend for the Irish in London, though the largely young team needs time to emerge (Photo with thanks to Cycling Ireland)
By Brian Canty
The enormity of the challenge the Irish track team faces to be competitive at the World Championships next February and to qualify riders for the Olympics in 2016 was laid bare in London at the weekend.
It was a bruising second round of the UCI World Cup for what is an emerging team, mostly made up of young riders who will need time to find their feet at this level.
There were several Irish riders in action yesterday, Sunday; all battling gamely against superior competition.
Eoin Mullen was the first Irishman on the boards; the Aran Islander going in the 200m TT, the qualifying event for the head-to-head sprint competition.
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He clocked a time 10.241 seconds which was good enough for 22nd, of 41 riders, in a round won by Edward Dawkins of New Zealand.
The Kiwi was the only rider to go sub-10 seconds in a blistering time of 9.975.
Mullen’s result was enough to see him advance to the 1/16 finals where he was paired against Matthew Glaetzer. But the Irishman had to settle for second best here.
Head coach Brian Nugent has a word with his female charges at the weekend in London (Photo with thanks to Cycling Ireland)
Caroline Ryan was back in action in the closing three rounds of the omnium, hoping to improve on the 20th position where she started the second day of competition.
The first event yesterday was the 500m TT, but Ryan was well below par; finishing in 23rd in a time of 38.405.
Jolien D’Hoore of Belgium won this particular event in 35.595, with Marlies Mejias (Cuba) second on 35.747 and Laura Trott of Great Britain next in a time of 35.918.
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The next event was the flying lap and Ryan was also below her best there; finishing 23rd in a time of 15.436.
In the points race – an event Ryan finished third in in the World Championships in Melbourne in 2012 – the Irish rider put in a brilliant display.
She constantly attacked her rivals before managing to escape with two others midway through the 25k - 100 lap - race.
Unfortunately for Ryan, some strong chasing from the bunch behind reeled her in and with 10 laps to go it was all back together.
Irvine started but then withdrew; a decision made to satisfy criteria for participation in the World Championships in the New Year when he will hopefully be fully recovered from the broken collar bone he sustained in the opening round of the World Cup in Mexico (Photo with thanks to Cycling Ireland)
Ryan managed to scoop some points up during her time out front but it was never likely to be enough to push her far up the overall standings.
A medalist at a previous Worlds and World Cup, she will be disappointed with a 21st overall.
Meanwhile, in the opening round of the women’s keirin Shannon McCurley finished fourth in her heat.
There were five riders in each of the six heats, with only the first rider in each advancing to the second round.
The remaining four all qualified for the round one repechages and here McCurley was second to Jesse Varnish of Great Britain.
However, only the winner of each heat in these repechages made it through to the second round so that concluded her’s and Ireland’s campaign.
The team’s next engagement is in Cali, Colombia, next month at the third round of the World Cup and in February they will travel to France for the World Championships.
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