The UCI confirmed today that Team Ireland has qualified a quota in the Women's Madison and Women's Omnium events.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland and Cycling Ireland formally accepted the slots this morning.
This is the first time that Cycling Ireland has qualified such as a large team for the Olympic Games and the first time Ireland will be represented in a team event in track cycling, with the Madison being an event comprised of two riders.
The qualification of Ireland’s track cycling quota was thanks to the consistent performances of Ireland’s track cycling squad over a 2-year qualifying period.
At last months UCI Track World Championships in Berlin, Lydia Boylan and Lydia Gurley were the Irish competitors in the Madison team event and survived a brutal race to finish 11th and secure qualification for the Olympics.
The result added to Team Ireland’s points tally throughout the two-year qualification period which included a top-ten finish at the 2019 Track World Championships and an eighth-place at the 2019 European Championships.
Multiple riders contributed to the women’s points tally at World Cup, European Championships and World Championship events.
These riders will go through a selection process to identify the riders to be nominated for Team Ireland in the Tokyo Olympics.
Team Ireland had just one female cyclist at the 2016 Games in Rio Shannon McCurley racing in the women's kerin.
Team Ireland Quotas
1 x Women’s Madison (2 athletes)
1 x Women’s Omnium (athlete will also compete in the Madison)
Cycling Ireland will conduct a selection process to decide which two athletes will represent Ireland at these events.
