Ryan Finishes 11th in Points Race After Taking Early Lead

After lapping the field alone in the early stages of the race, Caroline Ryan rode a brave and tactical race in the Points Race at the final round of the Track Cycling World Cup Series in Mexico. Ryan, who won a Bronze Medal in this discipline at the World Championships in Melbourne last year, finished just outside the top ten in the world class field. Pawlowska of Poland took the gold medal, with Machacova (CZE) and Dominguez (CUB) taking silver and bronze.

Ryan attacked the bunch early in the race, taking full points in the first sprint, before lapping the field and gaining an extra 20 points. Over the course of the race two other groups also took a lap, meaning the final result after 80 laps came to the finish line. The Points race is a 20km race which includes 8 sprints. Riders accumulate points at each sprint point and gain 20 extra points for lapping the field. The winner is the rider with the most points at the finish line.

Coach Andy Sparks was impressed with Ryan's race saying "We are really happy with the final result. It wasn't her best result in a Points race, but it was definitely her best performance from a tactical point of view. She rode not only strong, but smart also. She lead for half the race against the World's best, and did the Irish jersey proud".

Later today Eoin Mullen races in the Keirin, where a good result will see the 20 year old qualify for the World Championships. Mullen has been based at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle over the past two years, where he has made a smooth transition into the Senior ranks. The Kierin is a 2km race, where a motorbike sets the pace for the field for half the race, gradually increasing speed. Once the motorbike pulls off the riders race against each other. Mullen will race in the first heat.

Ryan will compete again tomorrow in the Individual Pursuit, an event in which she has already qualified for the World Championships. The top four riders in the qualifying rounds of the 3km Time Trial will compete against each other for the medal. Ryan races in the 7th heat of the qualifying rounds.

The competition takes place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, between January 17th and 19th.