The track to Tokyo - Track World Cup 19-21 October *will contain unmasked spoilers*

Beasty

Just as we are winding up the Irish outdoor track season, the Track World Cup is back, with an Irish team of 7 participating in this weekend's events in Paris:

Lydia Boylan – Scratch race and Madison
Lydia Gurley – Points race and Madison
Shannon McCurley – Omnium
Robyn Stewart – Keirin and Sprint

Felix English – Scratch race and Madison
Marc Potts – Omnium and Madison
Fintan Ryan – Points race

There will be live coverage over the weekend on Eurosport, and as usual this thread will contain race discussion, so don't click on it if you want to get the most out of delayed TV coverage

Today's schedule can be seen here with Irish interest in the 2 Points races. It's a straight final for the women later on, but Fintan Ryan faces pre-qualification shortly

The Cycling Ireland team announcement can be seen here

This is where the qualification for Tokyo starts in earnest although this time riders can look to qualify through selective events rather than being forced to travel around the World to pick up qualification points in every event. The best 3 performances across the 6 World Cup events this winter will count towards qualification for the Olympics

Beasty

And it looks like Fintan has qualified for the final being one of a handful of riders who took a lap in Heat 1

Beasty

Lydia Gurley takes 5th place in the Women's Points Race, Fintan Ryan 7th in the Men's. Both got involved in breaks that gained a lap.

Marc Potts goes in the Omnium tomorrow, with Felix English competing in the scratch and Robyn Stewart in the sprint. Hopefully the two Lydias will be able to build on their prior successes in the Madison

Thud

Carlton talking about the irish indoor track at start of Fintans races (joked that the downside is that our track riders will have to move back from Spain) said it needs to get built and he wants to cut the ribbon to open it

I've heard him mention the lack of a track here many times.

Did I hear recently that planning was due to begin next year and they hope to start construction the following year?

Beasty

My understanding is the plan is to have it up and running in 2021. They received planning permission a couple of years ago but had to re-submit when someone decided they had it 50m away from where it should be

It's pretty much down to when the government hands over some cash to help fund it, so I guess there is a "change of government" risk, although I suspect we will not find a different government party with anyone like the current Sports Minister, which can only be positive!

Beasty

A slightly disappointing 17th for Marc Potts in the scratch (race 1 of the Omnium)

Robyn Stewart qualified for the match sprints but was then knocked out in the first round

Beasty

10th place for the Lydias in the Madison. Felix on the track now in the Scratch

smacl

In work today and UCI youtube stream is blocked to Ireland. Hopefully there'll be highlights on Eurosport.

Beasty

Shannon McCurley racking up some points in the Omnium - she's had a few close calls in the elimination race but she's been in the top dozen or so in all 3 events to date

Beasty

smacl wrote: »

In work today and UCI youtube stream is blocked to Ireland. Hopefully there'll be highlights on Eurosport.

10:45 this evening

Beasty

All the fun of the men's Madison will be on shortly.

smacl

Beasty wrote: »

10:45 this evening

Nice one. Just need to avoid this thread for the day so.