Irvine Goes for Gold at World Track Cycling Championships in Minsk

National Record & Silver Medal Guaranteed for Olympian Irvine at World Championships

In a moment that will go down in the history for Irish Cycling, Martyn Irvine has reinforced his dominance on the World Stage, by qualifying for the Gold Medal Final at the World Track Cycling Championships in Minsk this morning.

Irvine, who raced in the Omnium at the Olympic Games, broke the Irish record in the Qualifiers of the Individual Pursuit, achieving a time of 4.20.260 over the 4km Time Trial. He will meet Hepburn of Australia in the Final, who was 1.8 seconds faster in the heat, finishing a time of 4.18.456.

Racing for UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team this year, Irvine is going from strength to strength in both Track Racing and on the Road. Last December he won a silver medal in both the Individual Pursuit and the Scratch race at the World Cup in Glasgow, and this morning demonstrated his force, setting himself up for a World Title ride later on today.

Speaking from the Velodrome in Minsk, Track Coach Andy Sparks said: "We couldn't have started off Day 2 any better, with Martyn setting a new National Record in qualifying for the Gold Medal final. Irish riders are once again showing that they can compete against, and beat, the World's best."

Cycling Ireland Head Coach, Brian Nugent, said: "We are ecstatic with Martyn's ride, it was something else watching him do that phenomenal ride, we're looking forward to the final later this evening."

The Gold Medal Final is due to start at 5pm Irish time, where the first person to finish the 4km race against the clock will be deemed the winner. A silver medal is guaranteed at the very least. Less than an hour after the Pursuit Finals, Irvine will be in action again, racing in the Scratch Race, which is a 15km Bunch Race, where the first over the line is the winner.