Retiring Martyn Irvine paved the way for others, says Cycling Ireland's Brian Nugent

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.

That was the parting message from the man who coached him and knew him better than most — Cycling Ireland technical director Brian Nugent.

The pair have been together in the high-performance unit since its inception ten years ago and Nugent said Irvine was very much the heartbeat of what he described as a Cycling Ireland “family”.