Enormity of challenge for pursuiters laid bare at Mexico World Cup

Mná na hÉireann: The women's team pursuiters just about to throw themselves into action in the qualifiers at the Mexico World Cup last night (Photo: Guy Swarbrick)

By Brian Canty

The Irish track squad endured a torrid opening night at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Series in Guadalajara, Mexico, last night.

The elite men’s and women’s team pursuit squads both took to the boards at a virtually deserted velodrome and they both found the going extremely tough against some world class opposition.

Indeed, with qualifying points for the 2016 Olympic Games the big goal for all nations, it was little surprise to see so many nations bringing star-studded, experienced line-ups.

The Irish gave it their all, but both line ups are new to this discipline and Ireland as a nation has been absent from the event in recent seasons.

The men’s team had to settle for 23rd of the 24-team field, while the women were 17th from 23 nations.

Both finishing places underline the size of the gap the teams must bridge at this level.

However, teams gelling together over a period of time is key in this event, meaning any expectation these new line ups would challenge any time soon was unrealistic.

Martyn Irvine, closest to camera, leads the Irish men into action last night. Like the women, it will take time to get the team effort right (Photo: Guy Swarbrick)

“This was a steep learning curve for both teams," said Cycling Ireland high performance coach Brian Nugent.

"The standard is high here and if you want to be competitive you have to push hard.

"Both teams committed to that and in doing so ended up in trouble near the end of the ride.

"They are learning the hard way and it isn’t getting any easier for the next few months. The important thing, though, is that they are learning, and they have time to learn.”

The women’s team of Caroline Ryan, Lydia Boylan, Lauren Creamer and Melanie Spath finished in a time of 4.39.462.

While Josie Knight did extremely well to be selected to travel to Mexico, the 17-year-old was held in reserve this time around.

Unsurprisingly, Team GB topped the standings, with Katie Archibald, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and former Irish international Ciara Horne dominating proceedings.

The world record holders in the event, the British clocked a time of 4:20:066. They were over six seconds faster than their closest rivals, New Zealand.

Top man: Ireland's Eoin Mullen will be in sprint and keirin action before the World Cup concludes tomorrow, Sunday (Photo: Guy Swarbrick)

Canada and China finished third and fourth respectively, with the highly-fancied Australian women’s team only managing seventh.

In the men’s event, Ireland were first on the boards and while finishing well down the field they came close to the national record; a fact that underline’s Nugent assertion regarding the depth of the talent in the field in Guadalajara this weekend.

The team of Martyn Irvine, Ryan Mullen, Cormac Clarke and Thomas Fallon clocked a time of 4.11.618, just outside the existing Irish record of 4.11.587.

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Australia - with Glenn O’Shea, Daniel Fitter, Miles Scotson and Samuel Welsford in their team - set the fastest time of 3.57.132.

Team GB were over a second down on the Australians after the opening kilometre and despite a late charge were unable to overhaul their rivals, crossing the line in a time of 3:57:661.

They will now face off against The Netherlands with Australia riding against Switzerland for bronze.

The action is continuing today with Caroline Ryan in action in the women’s omnium, with Irvine and Eoin Mullen competing in the men’s omnium and keirin events respectively.

Schedule and Results for Irish Team in Mexico

Full Team