Women’s team pursuit squad smashes national record again

Having broken the national record on Wednesday during the qualifying round in the European track championship team pursuit, going 4.372 seconds faster than the old mark, Cycling Ireland’s women’s squad made a further surge in Thursday’s second round.

The quartet of Lydia Boylan, Josie Knight, Caroline Ryan and Mel Spath clocked a time of 4 minutes 31.66, finishing sixth quickest and further reducing the national record by 3.424 seconds. The quartet took sixth in the final, with a crash by Spath complicating things somewhat.

However, going over seven seconds faster than the old mark in two days shows the improvement made by the team. The riders will keep working for further gains in the months leading up to the world championships.

The men’s team pursuit squad had a quieter performance, with Martin Irvine, Mark Downey, Felix English and Fintan Ryan netting 14th in Wednesday’s qualifying round.

The 2013 world champion Irvine was in action again in the men’s scratch race on Thursday evening. The Ards competitor attacked 15 laps after the start in a bid to gain a lap, but he was quickly closed down by an attentive bunch.

Five other riders then seized the opportunity and gained a lap. Irvine tried repeatedly to do likewise but each attempt was marked by the others. He showed his stubbornness when he tried once more with three to go yet, once again, he was hauled back.

The Spanish rider Sebastian Mora Vedri triumphed, with Swiss rider Tristan Marguet netting second and Adrian Teklinski of Poland taking third.

Irvine was 11th and will be disappointed that the timing of his attacks didn’t work out better.

Josie Knight was due to ride the women’s points race later on Thursday evening. The Irish campaign in the European championships continues until Sunday.