Cyclist wins Ireland's first world medal on €100k team budget

Caroline Ryan, a Garda from County Kildare, today won the first Track Cycling World Championship medal in Ireland’s history.

The 32-year-old former rower claimed bronze in the women’s points race behind gold medal winner Anastasia Chulkova of Russia at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena.

“It’s amazing,” said Ryan, who took part in a talent transfer programme at the end of the rowing season in 2008.

“I got hooked as soon as I got on the track, I just loved it.”

Ryan was initially placed in the Irish para-cycling squad as a pilot in the tandem event with partially-sighted rider Catherine Walsh, and won pursuit silver in the World Championships in Manchester in 2009.

Today’s result was a remarkable feat for a team with a €100,000 budget, whose riders have contributed to their costs for Melbourne and train in Newport, south Wales, due to there being only two outdoor tracks in Ireland.

To achieve it in the points race – a tactical 100-lap (25 kilometre) event, featuring 10 sprints – is even more extraordinary.

Like the three-kilometre individual pursuit in which Ryan excels, the event was removed from the Olympics after Beijing in 2008.

The omnium was deemed unsuitable, so Ryan’s hopes focus on the road race and the time-trial in London.

Ryan, who paid tribute to coach Brian Nugent for her success, added: “Time-trialling is what I specialise in on the road, but the road race too, I’ve got experience in bunch racing.

“I’ve got the pursuit on Sunday first off.”