Disappointment For Knight In The Junior Women's Road Race At The UCI Road World Championships

Time Trial Crash Forces Knight to Withdraw from Road Race at the World Championships in Spain

Josie Knight was forced to withdraw from the Junior Women's Road Race at the UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, this morning, suffering from injuries she sustained in the Time Trial on Monday. The Dingle native rode with the main peloton for the first lap in the 72.8km race, but withdrew at the start of the second lap. Knight, a first year junior, is one of Ireland's most talented young riders, and won a silver medal in the Individual Pursuit at the European Track Championships earlier this year. The U23 Men are now racing in the Road Race, with a strong team including Ryan Mullen, who won a silver medal in the Time Trial in Monday. The Championships run from Sunday 21st September until Sunday the 28th September.

Knight's main focus this year has been the timed events, and has spent considerable time this summer in Majorca with the Irish Team, and in Aigle, where she spent time on a training camp with the World Cycling Centre. Competing in the World Championships will no doubt act as valuable learning experience for her.

Speaking after the Road Race, Cycling Ireland coach Neill Delahaye said "The crash on Monday affected Josie, she hadn't fully recovered and was in a lot of pain during the race. Her usual power wasn't there today, and she pulled out of the race on the start of the second lap. She has a great attitude, and was really unlucky to crash on Monday."

In the U23 Men's 182km Road Race today Ireland has fielded an extremely strong team, with Ryan Mullen, Conor Dunne and Jack Wilson competing, all of whom compete for the An Post Chain Reaction Sean Kelly Team. Mullen has already won a silver medal for Ireland this week, being narrowly beaten for the World U23 Men's Time Trial title on Monday.

The Irish Team at the World Championships is sponsored by Armor-lux, PowerBar, Spin 11 and Dare2b. The UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, run from 21st September - 28th September.