Irish Record For Women In 8th Place Finish In Team Pursuit At 2014 UEC Track Elite European Championships

Ireland Women's Team Pursuit Team finished with an Irish record in 8th place at the 2014 UEC Track Elite European Championships in Baie-Mahault, Guadaloupe, yesterday. The newly formed quartet qualified for the finals in the opening rounds, securing vital qualifying points towards the Rio Olympics. In the 7th-8th place final the Irish team finished with their fastest time of 4.50.218. In the Men's Scratch Race Javan Nulty and Martyn Irvine were in action, with Nulty finishing in 17th place in his senior debut, and Irvine finishing in 28th place. Lauren Creamer and Lydia Boylan finished 21st and 22nd respectively in the Women's Points Race. These Championships mark the first step in the Rio Olympic Qualification Process for the Irish Team, with riders competing across Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines in the French Caribbean Velodrome. The European Championships run from Wednesday the 15th October to Sunday the 19th October.

The Team Pursuit is a 4km race against the clock, with four riders on each team. The fastest teams qualify to the next rounds. While normally only the top four teams get an opportunity to ride for medals, the rules were amended slightly, as there were Olympic Qualifying Points up for grabs. The initial qualifying round for the team pursuit determined the top eight teams, which meant that yesterday the teams had a second chance to gain places. Solid rides throughout the weekend by the Irish team kept them in 8th place, although their final time of the competition was their fastest.

Speaking after the final Head Coach Brian Nugent said "The Women's Team Pursuit performed better than anyone could have expected, with three of the four making their debut in this event. Having ridden three rounds in two days, and finishing it off with the quickest ride at the end shows how much they have been learning as they have gone through this competition."

Today's action kicks off with Eoin Mullen who will be racing in the Men's Sprint, the heats of which span the day. Martyn Irvine will also be competing in the Omnium, an event in which he will be racing throughout the World Cup Series this year, in pursuit of Olympic Qualifying Points. In the Women's Scratch Race Shannon McCurley and Lydia Boylan will be competing, while Cormac Clarke and Javan Nulty will race in the Men's Points Race. The UEC Track Elite European Championships run from the 15th - 19th October.