Martyn Irvine set the bar for Irish international cyclists, achieved something that would have been unthinkable 10 years ago, and had unrivalled dedication, passion, and professionalism for the sport.

Ryan Mullen was last night crowned national U23 and elite time trial champion after he beat Eddie Dunbar (NFTO) and Martyn Irvine (Madison Genesis) on the opening night of this year’s championships.

Ryan Mullen is the big favourite to land back-to-back U23 time-trial titles tonight as this year’s national championships get underway in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

The An Post-Chain Reaction team made it three wins in four days at the Rás yesterday on another wretched day that saw Ireland’s Martyn Irvine drop out of the overall contention.

The An Post Chain Reaction celebrated their second stage win in as many days at the Rás yesterday on a savage day that saw the field split to pieces.

Italian rider Francesca Reda is the first race leader of this year’s An Post Rás after a thrilling opening stage from Dunboyne to Carlow yesterday which saw the peloton lose over 10 minutes and Ian Richardson of UCD take the county rider prize.

There has been only one Irish winner of the An Post Rás in the last decade and that trend is unlikely to change this year, writes Brian Canty.

Páidi O’Brien made it three wins from four at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan yesterday when he blasted to glory on the fourth stage of the race but it was Sean McKenna who took overall glory.

The Irish track team brought their World Championships campaign to a conclusion in Paris yesterday, with the standout performances coming from Caroline Ryan and Eoin Mullen.

It was a baptism of fire for the Irish Women’s 4k Team Pursuit squad in their debut at the UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Paris yesterday as they finished last of 16 teams in qualifying.

Though plans to build Ireland’s first velodrome remain etched on the drawing board, Ireland’s track cycling team is motoring along regardless. 

Injury. For professional sports people, it is both the bogeyman outside the window and the wolf at the door.

Sean Downey will replace the injured Martyn Irvine in Ireland’s Men’s Team Pursuit in the second round of the UCI Track World Cup in London this weekend.

Should Ireland ever commit to the Commonwealth again, it would only be to the benefit of its sports men and women in the 26 counties, smack bang in the middle of every Olympic cycle

CYCLING: Sam Bennett is the hot favourite to win tomorrow’s Elite National Road Race title in Mullingar, but the Carrick-on-Súir rider is playing down his chances.

Ireland’s Sam Bennett followed up great results in Oman and Qatar in recent weeks with a stunning victory in Spain yesterday.

Ireland’s Caroline Ryan finished sixth in qualifying for the Individual Pursuit final at the UCI Track World Championships in Cali, Colombia, last night.

Ireland's Martyn Irvine has won a silver medal at the scratch race at the World Championships overnight.

Cycling Ireland High Performance coach Brian Nugent is upbeat ahead of this week’s UCI World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia and believes he has medal-winning form in the three-person Irish team of Martyn Irvine, Caroline Ryan and debutant at this level, Ryan Mullen.

Derval O’Rourke and Ciarán Ó Lionáird have expressed disappointment at the level of funding they are set to receive in 2014.

Record-breaking jockey AP McCoy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2013 on Saturday night.

Brian Nugent scratches his head and tries to tot up the number of days he has spent abroad with Irish cyclists this year — but can only offer a very rough estimate. “A lot,” he eventually settles for.

The RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2013 is jockey Tony McCoy.

Turn on your TV for any length of time this next few weeks and sooner or later you are likely to be treated to recorded moments of rare magic

Ireland could have up to six riders on the Giro d’Italia start line in Belfast on May 9 after the shortlist for wildcard entries for the three-week race was unveiled yesterday.

Ireland’s Martyn Irvine won his first ever gold medal at a UCI World Cup Track meeting on Saturday night, winning the points race in Manchester from a star-studded field.

Ireland’s Martyn Irvine won a bronze medal in the omnium event at the European Track Cycling Championships in Apeldoorn, Holland yesterday.

Following weeks of speculation, Team Sky yesterday confirmed Ireland’s Philip Deignan will join their ranks for the 2014 season.

Páidí O’Brien is the new Irish National Elite Criterium champion after using his sprint finish to great effect before a huge crowd in Cork City on Saturday, taking gold from a three-man breakaway.

Ireland’s Dan Martin recorded one of the biggest achievements of his career yesterday by taking the queen stage of the Volta A Catalunya and also taking over the race leader’s yellow jersey.

No David Gillick, Derval O’Rourke down €28,000 despite almost medalling at the recent European Indoors and €12,000 set aside for Kenny Egan despite him having announced his retirement from the ring back in February.

If anything, he felt a nuisance.

We are all part of the same hypocrisy, said Michael Corleone in The Godfather (Part Two).

Martyn Irvine returned home today after capping a day of delight for Irish cycling with a gold and a silver medal within an hour.

116 years after the country won its first ever senior men’s track medal, Martyn Irvine took home gold and silver at the World championships on a truly historic night for Irish cycling in Minsk, Ukraine.

Ireland’s Martyn Irvine claimed two medals in an hour – the second of them gold in the men’s scratch race – at the Track Cycling World Championships in Minsk.

Sam Bennett, one of Ireland’s most promising young riders has said the decision to strip him of funding via the Sport’s Councils International Carding Scheme has come as a ‘kick in the teeth’.

Newtownards cyclist Martyn Irvine finished 13th overall after the sixth and final event of the multi-discipline omnium cycling event in the London velodrome last night.

Ireland’s Martyn Irvine was left bitterly disappointed after finishing 11th in the men’s omnium at London 2012 but has vowed to use his frustration to push himself on.

Co Down's Martyn Irvine is currently in 14th position after the 4km individual pursuit this morning.

Ireland's Annelise Murphy is in with a medal shout in the Laser Radial class with only one point separating the top four.

Anyone ever heard of the omnium?

Maxol have announced that they will support Ireland’s Track Cycling champion Martyn Irvine.