Seventh for Caroline Ryan at the World Championships in Gutsy Race

Ireland's Caroline Ryan raced a brave and gutsy race in the Scratch Race, holding Medal Position until the last 100m. After making a break at 12 laps to go, Ryan lead the race on her own until the Mexican and Polish riders jumped across to her. Fading in the closing laps, Ryan was overtaken by the bunch with 100m to go, holding on to a fantastic, but disappointing 6th place on the line.

For a moment it looked like the former International Rower would repeat the performance of Martyn Irvine in the Scratch Race yesterday, when she attacked on her own with roughly 12 laps to go. Seeing the danger, last year's World Champion Pawlowska (Poland) and Ryan's training partner Arreola Navarro (Mexico) jumped across to her. In the closing laps this trio powered together towards the finish line, before Pawlowska attacked again. With 100m to go the Chasing Bunch, who were closing the gap passed Ryan, putting her in 7th place at the finish.

Track Coach Andy Sparks said "Tactically this was a great race for Caroline, with the podium almost within reach. We're impressed with her improvement and she made the Irish jersey proud."

Tomorrow is the last day of racing at the World Track Cycling Championships in Minsk. First up is Eoin Mullen in the Men's Sprint. Mullen has been training out of the World Cycling Centre in Aigle over the last few years, and has already made history, being the first Irish Rider to qualify for the Sprint event at the World Track Cycling Championships ever. The young rider (19) has been steadily improving in strength and experience since joining the Senior ranks this year.

Later on in the day Ryan will race once more in the Points Race. Last year she won a Bronze medal in this race, and will be looking to defend this medal. Ryan will likely be a marked rider, given her gutsy ride today in the Scratch race. The Points Race is a 25km race, where Points are awarded to the first five riders at various distances throughout the race. The winner is the person who accumulates the most points after 25km.

Meanwhile, Ireland's newest World Champion, Martyn Irvine, will arrive in Terminal One of Dublin Airport at 11.05pm tonight, Friday 22nd February. Sportsfile Photography will be at the homecoming tonight and will be providing images reproduction fee free.

Following his phenomenal gutsy performance in the Scratch Race, where he won a gold medal, Irvine was crowned World Champion. This medal is added to the Silver medal that he won in the Individual Pursuit less than an hour earlier