From the solitude of Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands off the Galway coast, to the UCI’s World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland, 20-year-old Eoin Mullen could be forgiven for thinking this is all just a dream.

Six-time Olympic champion cyclist Chris Hoy has again been on the sharp end of abuse from disgruntled football fans after Chelsea supporters took to social media to vent their fury at referee Chris Foy.

The International Cycling Union are still to receive evidence from the United States Anti-Doping Agency in the Lance Armstrong case, but will “not be afraid” to enforce sanctions against the American if necessary, president Pat McQuaid said yesterday.

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.