Tough debut as Ireland’s women feel the pace at World Track Cycling Championships

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.

Lauren Creamer, Caroline Ryan, Josie Knight and Lydia Boylan clocked a time of 4.40.388, more than 20 seconds slower than winners Australia, who just edged their great rivals Great Britain with Canada third. It was a disappointing start to the Irish squad’s campaign but with such an inexperienced line-up — three of the four only made their debut in the event last October — it was unfair to expect anything from them.

The plan had been for rising star Josie Knight to set the pace early on and the young Kerry woman did that — perhaps too well, in fact.