No more regrets as Ireland in the medals at Brands Hatch

For a few moments, the hubbub that soundtracked Brands Hatch from early morning and through to teatime seemed to melt away into the sun-kissed Kent countryside, as James Brown and Damien Shaw cocked an ear towards the track’s tannoy.

They were halfway through the mixed zone at this stage, exhausted and drenched in sweat, but still none the wiser as to whether the 31:13.00 they clocked in the individual time trial B was enough to earn a podium place.

Then the news began to dribble through. The Spanish pair in first, the Italian tandem second and then… finally, they heard it: Brown and Shaw of Ireland third. Cue delirium and an end to five days of regrets.