Golden boy Irvine rules the world

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.

The 27-year-old from Newtownards, Co Down, won silver in the individual pursuit which was won by reigning champion Michael Hepburn, but to just qualify for that final was an achievement for Irvine, who set a new national record and personal best for the 4k test in the process.

His time of 4:20.260 was almost four seconds faster that what he did for the final later on in the day and many assumed that would be his lot as he stood on the podium to get his medal.