World scratch race champion Martyn Irvine returns to International competition today when he lines out as part of the Irish team at the European track cycling championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
Irvine from Newtownards, Co Down, became the first Irishman in 116 years to win a senior world title on the track.
Having been injured for most of the season due to a fractured femur , he will hope to make a positive comeback in today’s points race, plus the Omnium events tomorrow and Sunday.
The 2012 worlds points race bronze medallist Caroline Ryan competes in the women’s points race this evening plus the Omnium events this weekend.
The team is completed by Eoin Mullen, who will compete in the sprint races tomorrow plus the keirin races on Sunday.
Dan Martin’s second overall in the Tour of Beijing finished an excellent sixth in the final UCI World Tour rankings, as released this week. Nicolas Roche was 36th, with their combined totals putting Ireland 10th out of 35 countries in the final standings.
