UCI Tissot Track Nations Cup Round 3 Preview
Ireland are back in action in the third round of the UCI Tissot Track Nations Cup in Milton, Canada, from April 20th to 23rd.
After strong performances in the opening two rounds, the women’s team pursuit narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in round two in Cairo last month.
Attention switches to Canada this week for the final Track Nations Cup of the year as the team seek to keep up the momentum with Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy, Lara Gillespie and Emily Kay set to ride the women’s team pursuit.
In the women’s endurance events, Sharpe and Kay will team up for the madison, Gillespie will compete in the omnium while Kay rides the elimination race.
After competing in round one, Orla Walsh returns to the team in Canada and will race the sprint and keirin events.
In preparation for the UCI Tissot Track Nations Cup, three members of the team were part of an Ireland national team selection that competed at the C2 class Belgian International Track Meeting in Gent on April 14th and 15th.
Gillespie put in a series of strong performances in the women’s omnium to take a fourth place finish in a strong field – finishing just one point off a podium place.
Sharpe also took some encouraging results including a 4th place in the women’s scratch race as well as 7th in the women’s points race.
Kay and Erin Creighton were also in action in women’s omnium qualifying.
Unfortunately, Creighton suffered a crash in the women's omnium qualifying on Friday. Scan results have revealed that she has sustained a broken wrist.
You can view the full competition schedule for Round Three of the UCI Tissot Track Nations Cup here.
Ireland Team
Women’s Endurance
Team Pursuit – Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy, Lara Gillespie, Emily Kay
Madison – Alice Sharpe, Emily Kay
Omnium – Lara Gillespie
Elimination – Emily Kay
Women’s Sprint
Orla Walsh – Sprint & Keirin