Irish rider Mark Downey has sensationally won silver in the Men’s U23 Points Race at the UEC Track Juniors and U23 European Championships in Montichiari, Italy today.
Downey, who previously won a European silver in the Points Race as a junior in 2014, was lying in 3rd place until the closing laps when he moved into 2nd. The bunch race was won by World Champion Jonathan Dibben (GB) with the defending European Champion Raman Ramanau (BLR) in third place.
Also in action today was Xeno Young in the Men’s Junior Omnium. Young, who finished 4th in the Individual Pursuit yesterday, is lying in 6th place after Day 1 of the event.
Speaking after the race Downey was delighted with his result; “I can’t believe it, it’s amazing; I was sitting third with 10 laps to go, I saw the French guy (Benjamin Thomas who finished fourth) was under pressure so I knew it was time to go. I went with Dibben, I knew he would go, so it was a case of all or nothing – I emptied the tank. I wanted to prove the medal I won as a junior wasn’t a fluke.”
The Points Race was fast from the start, Downey confirmed. “It was like a motorbike race, just on on on! But I knew I was on a good day, I felt really relaxed it was one of those freak of nature days where I could go all day. I’m sandwiched between a world champion and a defending champion! Not bad for a wee guy from Banbridge against these guys from big systems!”
“This result is a group effort, I’m the last piece of the puzzle; this medal is not just me. All the support has been amazing; I tried for a result in the pursuit, and couldn’t get it, so today I didn’t want to let anyone down. Cycling Ireland has been brilliant – everyone can celebrate this as much as me.”
Downey will be competing again on Sunday with Fintan Ryan in the Madison. “I’m going to enjoy this moment. These don’t happen very often, but tomorrow it’s back to reality. We have done a nice bit of work for the Madison, and I’m not going to let Fintan down.”
Track Coach David Muntaner was very impressed with Downey and all the riders competing today: “Today was so good, it was amazing. It felt so good to get the medal, it’s my first medal as a coach, and I feel as happy as if I was the rider. Today everyone was good; Ciara, Josie and Tom also rode well, but didn’t have their day”
Muntaner was especially impressed with Young, who competed in his first Omnium event “Xeno is lying 6th; he lost some points in the scratch race, but did a great IP (Individual Pursuit). He did the same time as yesterday, which is really important for the future, it’s a good sign that he can do the same time two days in a row.”
“He did an amazing elimination race. It is a hard race and we weren’t expecting such a good result. We were watching videos before the race and he did exactly what we wanted him to do. You couldn’t see that he didn’t have experience in it. He entered the Omnium for experience, but I think he can do good!”
In the Women’s Junior Points Race Ciara Doogan was 13th, Tom Knight was 14th in the Men’s Junior Points Race and Josie Knight was a DNF. Tomorrow Young will continue his campaign in the Men’s Junior Omnium, while Fintan Ryan and Ciara Doogan will race in Day 1 of their Omniums.
In the Women’s U23 Scratch Race Autumn Collins will also be in action. This weekend eleven Irish riders will compete in twenty four events in one of the major events in junior and U23 track cycling.
The UEC Track Juniors and U23 European Championships take place in Montichiari Velodrome in the Brescia region of Italy, and run from the 12-17 July.
