European Track Championships - contains unmasked spoilers

slow

From here

Irish Squad for European Track Championships
Men's and Women's Squads to take on Europe's Best in Grenchen, Switzerland
A 13-strong Irish squad is putting the finishing touches on its preparations for this week's European Track Championships in Grenchen, Switzerland.
Seven women and six men have been selected to take part in a range of events over the five days of the championships including all the individual and team endurance events as well as selected sprint events.
The meeting kicks off in the 250m Swiss velodrome tomorrow evening where Team Ireland will ride in the qualifying rounds of the men's and women's four-kilometre Team Pursuit.
The women's quartet will be selected from squad regulars Lydia Boylan, Lauren Creamer, Josie Knight, Caroline Ryan and Mel Späth along with international newcomer Eimear Moran.
The men's pursuit team will be made up of four riders chosen from Mark Downey, Felix English, Martyn Irvine, Marc Potts and Fintan Ryan.
Irvine will also be targeting a strong result in the Individual Pursuit and the Scratch Race, events at which he was silver and gold medallist, respectively, in the 2013 World Championships.
Eoin Mullen gets his bid for vital Olympic qualification points under way on Friday morning in the 200m time trial qualifying rounds of the men's Sprint. Mullen's busy week also includes participation in the Keirin, another important Olympic event for him, and the Kilometre Time Trial.
Shannon McCurley has her first outing in the Scratch race on Friday evening while she will also bid for Olympic qualifying points in the Keirin on Sunday morning, the final day of racing.
The squad have just completed three weeks of preparation in Majorca and, according to Team Technical Director Brian Nugent, are well prepared for an event that will offer the opportunity to accumulate vital experience as well as important ranking points.
“It's good to see this squad back into action and competing. The team have improved as a whole over the summer months and I'm looking forward to seeing the progression this week and throughtout the World Cup season. It's an important year as there's ranking points on offer.
It's all about progression at this level and we will have entered alot of races here to give riders experience and gain in confidence. I'm happy where we are going into this season"
The European Track Championships will be covered live on Eurosport TV during the week. Check listings for details.
For full results from the European Track Championships see the the Official Website:
http://grenchen2015.ch/en/results/
See the Cycling Ireland twitter feed for live updates: @IreCyclingFed

eeeee

Really exciting times for the track team, the women's TP squad in particular have been getting faster and faster. Can't wait!

Beasty

This is the start of the final push for Olympic qualification, and we are going to need to see some tremendous performances from anyone hoping to travel to Rio. The number of places in the Olympic track events has reduced and there's a lot of competition for the available slots with all the major nations looking to up their own game.

eeeee

Coverage on the UCI channel again or no?

Beasty

gadetra wrote: »

Coverage on the UCI channel again or no?

It's a UEC rather than UCI event and they certainly did not show it last year. It is on Eurosport

eeeee

Can anyone find up to date start lists for the Women's Team Pursuit? Or are the final team only going to be announced at the very last minute? I can only find entry lists for tonight.

Beasty

Entries and results here

Live timing here

Irish women's pursuit team have already gone (all entries here)
Lydia Boylan
Josie Knight
Mel Spath
Caroline Ryan
Time 4:35.09, currently 2nd of 4 teams that have gone

Currently live on Eurosport

Beasty

Looks like the women will finish 8th fastest (only the top 2 seeds, Germany and GBR, to go) which would see them through to a ride off tomorrow, probably against France (who were just over half a second faster), for 7th place

Beasty

GBR are all doing 2 lap turns! That's pretty much unheard of.

eeeee

Irish women get through in 8th, steady, more left I think.

Savage going my Martyn Irvine in the men's, 2 and 3/4 lap turn at the end after being down to 3 men early on and still a 4.11.?. Hard, hardy man!

Beasty

Irish women improved the national record by over 4s. Think the men may have also set a new record by a fraction of a second

ryan_sherlock

Impressive ride from the women, about 1.7 seconds from 4th. It isn't a 7/8 ride off tomorrow, time is what matters. All still to play for.

Beasty

I see now - Wednesday was effectively pre qualification with 8 teams going through to the head to head. The gold and silver medallists can only come from the 4 fastest today (they will go head to head in 2 heats in round 1) with the other 6 qualifiers being ranked on time - so if Ireland are again 8th fastest they will then go head to head for 7th. If they can move up to 6th fastest though they would be fighting for 5th, and 4th fastest would give them a bronze medal ride-off.

Josie Knight's down for the Points race and Martyn Irvine the scratch race tomorrow evening. I would guess that either Lauren or Eimear could replace Josie in the Team Pursuit final ride-off (although currently the same team as raced today is listed for Round 1 in the morning)

Beasty

Belarus currently up against France in the women's Team pursuit - Ireland up next

Beasty

4:31(.666!!!)

fantastic performance by the girls, improving the national record by nearly another 4s and faster than France and Germany so far

Beasty

The women will be up against Italy for 5th/6th places tonight

The Italians were 1.4s faster this morning, which I guess gives the girls something more to target!!

Having said that, the improvement they have already shown this week is tremendous, and expecting them to go out and do it again tonight may be a bit too much for them. I suspect they may keep Josie in the team tonight as the pursuit finals precede the points race (and they could always put one of the other girls into that if necessary)

eeeee

Wa heeeey!!!!! Go ladies! Great going. The women's TP just keeps on making progress. Great stuff


I think it would make sense to substitute Josie, I know one lady who would make a very able substitute

Also is it set in stone which events riders are allowed to enter? Can more than one rider enter an event? I have no idea what the rules are for international events. Is there some sort of qualification process they have to go through? If that's the case how do you ever get in? Or is it all the coach's decision who rides in what?

Beasty

More that 1 rider per nation can ride in the sprint events. Only 1 entry is permitted in the bunch races and team events though

eeeee

So two in the keirin for example? And who decides who can enter? Organizers based on a system of how many riders from a certain nations have ridden in x amount of events or the coaches from each country?

Beasty

gadetra wrote: »

So two in the keirin for example? And who decides who can enter? Organizers based on a system of how many riders from a certain nations have ridden in x amount of events or the coaches from each country?

It's all covered here
Limits are shown in 1.3 of the regulations

2 can start (although up to 4 can be entered allowing for 2 reserves) in the sprint, Keirin, TT and pursuit, only 1 (again up to 2 reserves) in the Points, Scratch, Omnium and Elimination, plus 1 team in the Madison, Team Sprint and Team Pursuit (again up to 2 reserves)

Entry here and the World Cup allows qualification for the World Championships (with limitation on numbers), and all these events carry Olympic qualification points (and qualification for the Olympics is very difficult - as I read it only 9 Team Pursuit teams in each of the men's and women's events will qualify, with a maximum of 6 entries from Europe)

Beasty

They will be off again in a couple of minutes and .....


wait for it gadetra.....

Eimear is in, but not for Josie, for Caroline.

Maybe Caroline is going for the Points

Could also be another last minute sub

Beasty

Another great performance but unfortunately Mel clipped a wheel and came down with 3 laps to go - she looks OK though. 6th in an event of this stature for what was essentially a novice team with no Caroline was a fantastic performance

Beasty

Talk amongst the commentary team of a possible DSQ for the Italians as at least one of them had their SRM computer on display (which is not permitted). Watch this space.....

Harrybelafonte

I realise we're all happy with these results to an extent, but combined with the shi**y news about the velodrome in Abbottstown, both ladies and gents teams have a greater potential than they can meet due to lack of resources. Both teams have been together long enough not to be regarded as novices at this point, it's access to resources that is making is holding them back.

eeeee

Well Eimear only started cycling this December, and Josie is only doing it a year isn't she? Mel Spath isn't doing it long either so I think the women's team in particular has massive potential for development, and this has been shown in their results.

Agreed though, not having a velodrome is on of the the single biggest impediments to their (both men and women's) development.

Great performance though considering the conditions for both. The mens team hardly get the chance to work together at all do they?

Beasty

gadetra wrote: »

The mens team hardly get the chance to work together at all do they?

Suspect they've been away training in Mallorca (with the women's squad) for a number of weeks

Beasty

gadetra wrote: »

Well Eimear only started cycling this December

IIRC she only just beat me on her track racing debut:p

eeeee

I'm sure there are plenty of toddlers who beat Mo Farah when they learned to run before him.

She only started racing in the summer league this year :eek: Incredible progression. Was reading an article about Katy Merchant, who transferred from the heptathalon three years ago and she was talking about having no experience and only getting to grips with technique and tactics now, it's really something to go from completely outside the sport to competing for your country internationally in less than a year! Caroline Ryan had a stratospheric rise from rowing too didn't she? Not sure if it was that quick but fast anyway. Impressive.

(article here: http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/21686/10026476/katy-marchant-insists-four-national-titles-wont-guarantee-rio-place)

Harrybelafonte

I'm not debating individual abilities here. That's not what Team Pursuit comes down to. Both teams at this point have had instances of wheel touching and accidents. That shouldn't happen in this event. The only reason it would happen is because the teams don't get enough time to work together, not any lack of ability. You've seen how many months of training teams here put in for the national titles and important that time together is. It'l just doesn't look like the two teams get that amount of time.

Oh yeah, and bring back team pursuit for women in Ireland. That might help too. But that's another debate.

eeeee

You're absolutely right, It's time together on track they need, not the odd few weeks in majorca here and there. This announcement is so frustrating given what they gave achieved with fcuk all time together (comparatively) and what their potential could be if they had an indoor to train in.

The lack of a women's TP is a huge shame nationally. Maybe CI should have been petitioned for the upcoming agm for a 3 woman squad being allowed nationally. I never thought of it! I'd die a happy woman if it did happen though :pac:

Harrybelafonte

gadetra wrote: »

You're absolutely right, It's time together on track they need, not the odd few weeks in majorca here and there. This announcement is so frustrating given what they gave achieved with fcuk all time together (comparatively) and what their potential could be if they had an indoor to train in.

The lack of a women's TP is a huge shame nationally. Maybe CI should have been petitioned for the upcoming agm for a 3 woman squad being allowed nationally. I never thought of it! I'd die a happy woman if it did happen though :pac:

We all know there really aren't ladies competing to make it viable, but as a showcase event even, I think it'd be worth considering. Bring it up at the Track AGM

Beasty

Just on the wheel touching point, Ireland were not the only culprits. Generally though their line discipline was very good except for that one issue. If you then overlay the fact this was Eimear's first "race in anger" at this levrl I think it bodes extremely well for the women's TP squad (and we do now have 6 members of that squad which is an improvement on last year)

I would add I think there's a lot of potential in the junior ranks on the women's side of things with hopefully one of two more we see at Sundrive anf perhaps morr on thr road having the potential to break into this squad over the next few years

Beasty

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

We all know there really aren't ladies competing to make it viable, but as a showcase event even, I think it'd be worth considering. Bring it up at the Track AGM

Maybe they should allow some of the older blokes to race with them if they need to make up numbers

eeeee

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

We all know there really aren't ladies competing to make it viable, but as a showcase event even, I think it'd be worth considering. Bring it up at the Track AGM

Even a showcase would be something. I think there was one before?

I think sundrive could rustle up two ladies teams, Orwell maybe one, and DID maybe another? Still not enough but a start anyway!

Caroline and Martyn in the omnium today. G'wan!

eeeee

Eoin Mullen is sprinting today, can't wait to see how he does.

Beasty

gadetra wrote: »

Caroline and Martyn in the omnium today. G'wan!

Caroline may be in the Omnium tomorrow, but today it's Fintan Ryan (another Sundrive graduate!)

Martyn has a long week (OK 6 days;)) ahead of him from Sunday, so may be resting up ....

On the topic of the pursuit, Swords do have the wife of a World Silver medallist in the event at their disposal ...

Beasty

Just an update on who's doing what.

Shannon McCurley goes in the Scratch race later on, but is also Ireland's representative in the Omnium. Mark Downey is entered into tonight's Points race. Eimear Moran is down for the TT tomorrow. Felix English goes in tomorrow's elimination race. Martyn Irvine and Marc Potts are down for the IP tomorrow.

They are clearly using this event to build everyone's experience of racing at this level, with Martyn and Caroline Ryan taking a bit more of a back seat.

eeeee

From the Sundrive page:

"Check out Irish International Track Sprinter and Sundrive Track Team rider, Eoin Mullen in the Flying 200m before going on to beat Francois Pervis..!"


Wow! Go Eoin!

eeeee

Fcuking class!

Beasty

Beasty wrote: »

Shannon McCurley goes in the Scratch race later on, but is also Ireland's representative in the Omnium.

Lydia Boylan has been switched in for Shannon in the Omnium tomorrow

So it now looks like it will be Lyders against lickle Laura...

Eoin Mullen will be back in action in the kilo TT

Beasty

Nasty fall for Fintan Ryan in the Omnium kilo. Clipped the sponge pads on the inside of the track as he was just about to enter the home straight. Looks a bit shaken but otherwise OK

He did manage to cross the line although he's currently showing as a DNF. Hopefully that will be changed and they will let him take part in the remaining 2 events

Earlier Martyn Irvine took 10th in the Individual Pursuit and Lydia Boylan was 16th in the Omnium scratch race, but it's very much early days in that event at present. She will shortly be up in the Omnium pursuit