The Northern Ireland team at the Commonwealth Games has yet to land a medal in Glasgow but with the road events to come the riders still have a chance.
Despite the lack of silverware so far, there have been some encouraging displays.
Flag-bearer for the opening ceremony, Martyn Irvine was perhaps their best chance of a medal and thoug he performed well in the opening half of the 20k scratch final – lapping the field with five others including An Post Chainreaction duo Kiwi Shane Archbold and Australian Glenn O’Shea - he eventually faded.
A few riders tried to join, but the selection had already been made.
The lap had taken a lot of effort and ultimately ended the race for Wales’ John Mould. Irvine soon lost his lap too, bringing the contest down to four riders; O’Shea, Archbold, Mark Christian (Isle of Man) and one of the stars of the An Post Rás back in May Remi Pelletier-Roy (Canada).
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Archbold would go on to win from O’Shea, with the Canadian taking bronze. Irvine was 14th.
In the women’s 10k scratch race, Ireland’s Lydia Boylan finished 14th out of 20 riders.
That race proved a memorable 1-2 for the Australians with Annette Edmondson taking the gold from Amy Cure in second. The average speed was a whopping 46 kilometres an hour.
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Lydia Boylan in track action in Glasgow, in between riders from New Zealand and Australia (Photo: Guy Swarbrick)
Boylan (27), who quit her job as an engineer last year to become a full-time rider, also competed in the points race and finished 16th out of 22, despite a very aggressive display.
That event was won by one of the darlings of British cycling, Laura Trott.
In the men’s 1000m time trial B2 tandem, James Browne and sighted pilot Dave Readle were fifth in a time of 1:09:413, just over seven seconds behind winners Scotland.
The men’s road race takes place on Sunday with a six-man team definitely capable of doing some damage.
Sean Downey, Fraser Duncan, Martyn Irvine, Peter Hawkins, Philip Lavery and Connor McConvey make up the selection with each capable of doing something, given their form this year.
Wendy Houvenaghel had been slated to race in the Games but an injury prior to the start forced her out. Claire Oakely and Boylan ride the women's road race.
Marcus Christie and Michael Hutchinson were 12th and 13th in yesterday's time trial and Oakley and Roger Aiken were 15th and 26th in Wednesday's XC MTB races.
