Irish team pursuit squad qualifies fourth at track world championships

The Irish women’s team pursuit squad has got off to a strong start at cycling’s track world championships, finishing fourth fastest in the qualification round on Wednesday. The quartet of Mia Griffin, Emily Kay, Kelly Murphy and Alice Sharpe recorded a time of 4 minutes 23.095 seconds in the 4000 metre event. Germany were quickest of the nine participating teams with 4 minutes 13.082.

This was just over a second clear of Italy and 3.118 seconds ahead of Great Britain.

The Irish time was 10.013 seconds back.

The team will compete in round one of the competition at 5.30 on Thursday evening.

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Griffin, Kay, Murphy and Sharpe broke the Irish national record earlier this month at the European championships. Their time of four minutes 21.202 seconds in round one of that competition improved the previous record of four minutes 21.386 set at the track world championships in February 2020.

They then went on to clock a time of 4 minutes 21.264 seconds in the bronze medal final, beating Great Britain by three and a half seconds.

Great Britain has swapped out three of its four riders for the world championships, explaining the clear improvement in time.

Aside from the team pursuit, the Irish riders will also compete in two other events this week.

Murphy and Griffin will ride the individual pursuit, having finished sixth and eighth in the European championships.

Kay and Sharpe will contest the Madison and will hope to improve on their European placing of 13th.

Track world championships, Roubaix, France

Women’s team pursuit:

1, Germany, 4 minutes 13.082 seconds

2, Italy at 1.094 seconds

3, Great Britain at 3.118 seconds

Other:

4, Ireland, at 10.013 seconds.