MARTYN IRVINE IS going for gold again when he defends his world title in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
The Newtonards rider is due at the start line at about 12.25am Irish time for the scratch race at the Track Cycling World Championships in Colombia.
Irvine is currently ranked fourth in the world for the event in which he famously won Ireland’s first track title in over 100 years.
Before that the 29-year-old will compete in the men’s individual pursuit (5pm) where he will hope to go one better than the silver medal he took home from Belarus last year.
His preparations were disrupted by a fractured leg earlier this season but he bounced back to win omnium bronze at the European Track Championships and the points race at a World Cup event.
Also in action in today’s 4km pursuit is Ryan Mullen, a double U23 bronze medallist at European level.
Ireland’s Championships began with a near miss last night as Kildare’s Caroline Ryan looked set to win silver in the scratch race before she was reeled in over the final metres, finishing 14th.
“Caroline raced her heart out tonight,” Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent said.
“She stayed in the right place the entire race, and was active throughout, making good tactical decisions.
“She hit them hard with five laps to go and got together with the girl from Belgium [gold medallist Kelly Druyts]. It was the perfect move. I was sure that was it.
“Caroline was distanced in the final two laps and got caught by the bunch in the last 100m. I’m very disappointed for her, but she’s in good shape, and will bounce back for her other events.
“She came here to compete for medals and she’s done just that.”
Ryan returns to action in the women’s individual pursuit tomorrow (7pm Irish time) and in the women’s points race in the early hours of Sunday morning (2am).
