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MORE IRISH PROFESSIONALS IN 2002!!!!!!!!!!! Cork rider James Hodnett who has ridden the FBD Milk Ras for the Stamullen / Meath East team the past two years and former 7-eleven rider John Brady will ride with the new Ofoto - Lombardia team in America. Hodnett has ridden with the team for the past number of years, while veteran Dubliner Brady is rejoining the paid ranks after a long spell away. The team will be based in America for most of the season but will also contest some European races.Two more Ofoto-Lombardia riders familiar to Irish competitiors would be Colby Pearce (3rd in the FBD Milk Ras 1999) and Erik Saunders who rode the Ras for Swiss team Fisconseils this year. Based in San Francisco, the 15 riders will ride Klein bikes and will compete in division three. Power and Barthe re-united: (By Gerard Cromwell Dec 13) Ciaran Power will be re-united with the man who put him out of action for most of this season in 2002. US Postal rider, Stephane Barthe who hit the barriers in a bunch sprint in the 4-Days of Dunkirk this year, causing Power to fall and break his collarbone, will be joining Saint-Quentin-Oktos in 2002. Seemingly US Postal didn't have enough money in their budget to keep Barthe, even on a reduced wage, so the French sprinter will join the revamped Saint Quentin team. 2 More Rás Riders Turn Pro: By Gerard Cromwell Dec 11) Two more of the German telekom team that rode this year's FBD Milk Ras have turned professional with the Telekom team for 2002. Yellow jersey Dirk Reichl who won the second stage into Portumna and Stefan Schumacher who wore the polka dot jersey of mountains leader after stage three, join this year's points winner David Kopp on the Jan Ullrich led pro squad. Also an interesting signing is that of Bobby Julich, who will join his fellow American Kevin Livingston in the Telekom team's efforts to oust compatriot Lance armstrong from his stramglehold on the Tour De France. MACCA’S BACK: What a difference a year makes. Just ask David McKenzie. After a year in the wilderness that is third division cycling, Australia’s cyclist of the year 2000 is back in the spotlight again. Only this time around McKenzie is not worrying about how to put into words the emotion of winning a stage in the Giro D’Italia. Instead, he finds himself pondering the longevity of body paint as he poses in his new team ‘skin-suit’ under the glare of the photographers’ lights. The launch of McKenzie’s new team, iteam.Nova.com came a little early for the team’s kit manufacturer, but “no worries” as the Melbourne man might say. Showing true professionalism, ‘Macca’ spent six hours getting his new bright yellow and blue kit painted on for the photo-shoot. <Read More Here>
Having moved to Valencia, Spain, as a youngster, Nally joined the Onteniente cycle club with Eleuterio Mancebo and developed in the Feria Valencia Team with Amadeo Olmos. Nally decided early in 2001 that he wanted to race in Italy. "We spoke about going to Italy because we know somedody from the Selle Italia team." he says. "Cycling gets a lot of television coverage here and even if you don't win, they like to see you having a go off the front." This year Nally rode for the small Danton Caparrini team. "The team is very modest. We don't race outside our region much. Although our region is Tuscany, the biggest cycling region in Italy, so every race is like a world championship. I had freedom in the team since the first day because it is a small team, so I like it. This year I had a slow start to the season, because I injured my knee in a crash early on. I had some bad luck. In July and August then, I started to finish in the top twenty and then one day I was second in a race. It was incredible! There were television cameras, journalists everywhere! Then when people realised I was in my last year as Under 23, I started to get some offers from teams for 2002." In an innovative move, normally reserved for the world of football, Nally will be farmed out to ride with amateur team Maltinti Lampadari until June next year."This was Selle Italia's idea. They want me to get some more experience and then join up with them in June." The Italian lifestyle and language took a bit of getting used to at first, he admits. "It was difficult at the start. But if you can get through the first few months, things start to get better, the language, meeting people. We live with a family who treat us as sons. It's really a very good set-up. The Italian fans really love their amateur cycling with a passion. One day some of the team were in a nearby town and we decided to buy a fried chicken. We were all laughing about what our directeur sportif would say if he saw us eating it. Suddenly the guy behind the counter said that he recognised us. He knew we rode for Danton Capparini and he knew our directeur. The laughing soon stopped! Television changes everything. You go out and people know you in the street. They respect the hard work you put in and not only if you are a winner. It is a lot different than Spain." Malarenergi turn Pro: (By Gerard Cromwell Dec 5) Familiar to irish riders and spectators alike from their frequent and successful visits to the FBD Milk Ras, Swedish team Malarenergi have registered as a 3rd division professional team for 2002. Riders such as Jukka Heinikainen and Niclas Ekstrom and former riders Pelle Kil, Krisroffer Ingleby and Kjell Carlstrom have performed well in the Ras in the past and may well be back next year. The team will have a training camp in Spain in early January before tackling the likes of the Post-Giro Tour of Sweden, Tour of Portugal and possibly the FBD Milk Ras again. CLUB's & GROUP's TRAINING: (By Gerard Cromwell Nov 8) As it's winter time and most clubs will have training groups going out on a Saturday and Sunday from now on, we have added a MEET AND TRAIN page to our site. This page is designed to encourage newcomers to the sport to get in touch with their local club and give cycling a try as well as helping seasoned cyclists to keep in touch during the winter. With this page you should be able to meet up with a local group no matter what part of the country you find yourself in. If you have a regular club spin just click on the link and add your information. Don't forget to tell us where you meet, what time, type of group ie: beginners, juniors, leisure, fast group and distance etc. Maybe even a contact number if you have one, would be helpful. see Meet and Train. Try adding a link to the MEET AND TRAIN section yourself <Go Here>
"I spoke to the new directeur on the phone today (Friday) and there is no problem. There is a place for me on the team next year. " says Power. "He has signed some new riders (Frederic Gabriel) from Bonjour and (Alexandre Chouffe) Big Mat and some from AG2r. The budget is bigger and hopefully we will get to ride some of the big races like we did this year." Power has just returned from honeymoon in Edinburgh with new wife Lisa and can't wait to begin racing again. "This year, I've had a very bad year. Things just went from bad to worse, but it's over now and with a month off the bike at the end of the season I can't wait to get back racing again. I'd love to ride the new races in Ireland next year, but it depends on the team. I'd love to ride the Ras too. I just want to start winning again. It's been two years since I won a race and I don't care if I win the biggest race or the smallest race in the world. I just want to win again." <For More Read Power's Struggle Here>
Kerryman Griffin took stage three of the tour beating Japan's Shinichi Sukfishima in a sprint finish with the rest of Team Ireland finishing in the main group just eleven secnds adrift and moved himself into second place on general classification. Stage 4 saw the field tackle 24 laps of a 2.5km circuit, half of which was uphill. Three Irish riders, McCann, Griffin, and Moriarty, infiltrated a breakaway group of nine early on and went on to lap the rest of the field. With 2 laps to go, McCann launched a blistering attack and hung on to take his second stage win by just 2 seconds, with teammate Griffin taking second on the stage and the lead in the points competition and Paddy Moriarty tking 5th on the stage. Stage 5 saw the race move into the mountains and with Mark Scanlon and Tommy Evans patrolling the peleton for the Irish team until the final mountain with 60kms to go, McCann held onto his yellow tunic and Griffin managed to increase his lead in the points competition with another second place on the line behind Jurgen Van Felt of Team Marco Polo, a multi-national team made up of professional and amateur riders who travel the world and specialise in this kind of racing. The penultimate stage of 155 kilometres would see the riders tackle two climbs of over 30 kilometres each in length and would prove the true test of McCann's mettle. After Scanlon and Evans again kept the field together for much of the stage, McCann, the winner of the King of the Mountains title in the 2000 FBD Milk Ras used his climbing ability to latch onto a group of seventeen riders that went clear on the second last climb. Also there were Moriarty and Griffin, with the latter earning enough points to make him outright winner of the King of the Mountains competition. McCann, who had a bad start to his professional career when tonsilitus and then injury halted his progress earlier in the year, was the only one who could respond to an attack by 5th placed Tomoya Kanou of the Shimano Japan team and this duo demolished the rest of the field on the 10 kilometre uphill run-in. McCann outsprinted the Japanese rider to take his hat-trick of stage wins in the Tour, earning himself and Ireland some more valuable UCI points in the process. With just a criterium stage today (Wednesday), McCann now leads Kanou by one minute and forty three seconds, with Griffin slipping to third place overall, having won the mountains competition. Paddy Moriarty lies in 4th place overall, and Ireland lead the team competition. Tour of
Hokkaido Stage 6 Results: 1 David McCann Team
Ireland 4:21'38" 2 Tomoya Kanou Shimano Japan
@03" 3 Kray Kermer Germany @30" 5 Paddy
Moriarty Team Ireland @40" 7 Paul Griffin Team
Ireland @52" 36 Mark Scanlon Team Ireland
@7'27" 54 Tommy Evans Team Ireland @13'43" DAVID KOPP'S OFF TO TELEKOM: (By Gerard Cromwell Sept 12) Once again the FBD Milk Ras has proven to be a hunting ground for future professionl riders. Having seen the likes of Guiseppe Guerini (Telekom), Patrick Jonker (Big Mat), Wladimir Belli (Fassa Bortolo), Tjarco Cuppens (Flanders Prefetex) and our own Ciaran Power, Morgan Fox and David McCann go on to turn pro after riding the race, 25 year old German David Kopp, who won a stage in this year's FBD Milk Ras has just signed a professional contract with Telekom for next year. The baby faced German took the sprint ahead of David McKenzie and Eugene Moriarty into Castleisland this year. Kopp maintained his impressive results throughout the week and eventually took the green jersey of points winner home to Germany also. After the Ras, Kopp continued his successful season, winning stages in many top European races and taking the bunch sprint in the German championships for tenth place behind winner Jan Ullrich and second placed Erik Zabel. "We are all fast in the team, " Kopp said on the Ras, "But I am the fastest." Look out for the cherubic features of the German sprinter at the head of the Telekom train next year. Tom Hughes of Stamullen Road Club recorded his finest win thus far when taking the Leinster Road Race Championships on Sunday last. Held over eight laps of a draggy 6.5 mile circuit in Kilcullen the scene was set early on when Colm Farrell (Navan Avonmore) launched an attack just after the start. After Farrell was reeld in, Hughes attacked around the four mile mark and was soon joined by reigning national criterium champion Paul Healion (Usher Insulations) and recent winner of the U.K's top stage race the Surrey 5-Day, Paddy Moriarty (Dublin Skip). <Read more by Gerard Cromwell Here>
Power’s Tour of the Future: (By Gerard Cromwell Sept 6) It’s been an up and down year for Ciaran Power, one of Ireland’s only two professional cyclists. After an impressive first year in the colours of the Linda McCartney team saw the Waterford man gain plenty of top class results, including two 5th places on stages of the worlds second biggest three week tour, the Giro D’Italia, Power seemed destined for greatness in 2001. <Read More Here> Bann Lavery Takes Bunch Sprint in France: (Mar 19) Ulster rider John Bann Lavery led home the bunch in 24th place in the French Nantes-Segre race on Monday. The 161 kilometre race was won by Freddy Bichon of Selection Mayenne who outsprinted eight others for the win. Bann Lavery, riding for EC Mayenne, led home the main field two minutes and six seconds later. TOP UCI COMMISSAIRE FOR FBD MILK RAS: (Released March 9) Scotsman Gerry McDaid has been awarded the prestigious appointment as Chief Commissaire in Ireland’s major cycling event, the 2001 FBD MILK RAS, by the Union Cycliste Internationale. Read More HERE >> McQUAID FOR ROUBAIX: (Feb 1) 21 year old UCD rider, David McQuaid is on his way to VC Roubaix in France for the 2001 season. After a season in Italy with the crack under 23 Zalf Fior squad, which also contained Mayo's Dave O'Loughlin last year, McQuaid said "Zalf Fior was a bloody good set-up, but a lot of things made me want a change and a new language." Having just returned from a training spell in Lanzarote, the Wicklow man heads off to France on the 10th of February for a training camp with his new squad. "I started training late and so am not concerned about the early season races. I go better in the good weather." he says. McQuaid is looking forward to the U/23 World's in Portugal at the end of the year, which is to be held on a course which he describes as "The best course I've ever ridden on and one which suits me to a tee." The son of former Nissan Classic race director and ICF president, Pat, is not disappointed at being left off the new Team Ireland initiative to be launched shortly. "I'm not disappointed," he says "I have no recent results which would merit it., but I will be disappointed if no thought goes into the selection of Irish teams. I hope to make a strong case for selection this season."
Irish Cycling Federation outlines plans for 2001 (Jan 22) Over 100 of Irelands elite cyclists converged on the Ardboyne Hotel in Navan, Co. Meath on Sunday to hear the Irish Cycling Federations plans for the coming season. After a 70 miles training spin in damp, foggy conditions in the morning, recently appointed chairman of the ICF, PJ Nolan, addressed the assembled riders and managers in the afternoon and outlined his plans for the future of the sport in Ireland.
According to Nolan, Ireland’s cyclists, while every bit as good as their European counterparts, are simply not getting enough help in making it to the very pinnacle of the sport. To this effect, Nolan unveiled the new ‘Team Ireland’ concept. Team Ireland will see six elite Irish cyclists based in France this season, under the guidance of an accredited French coach and the physiological supervision of the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick in an effort to gain enough UCI points to propel Ireland into the top thirty nations in the world rankings. This would automatically qualify the country for the next Olympic games and the world cycling championships. The six cyclists will be David O’Loughlin (Mayo Wheelers), Stephen O’Sullivan and Tommy Evans (Clarke's Nissan), Brian Kenneally (Carrick Cidona), Michael McNena (Thermo King) and ex-professional Morgan Fox (Navan Avonmore). Provision has also been made for a development squad of younger Irish riders to race in France to gain experience at some stage during the season. “We are losing medals because guys have to go back to work to make a living.” says Nolan “It annoys me to see riders giving up the sport at 22 or 23 years of age when, if they had the right support, they would be contenders at the following Olympics. A potential world champion should be looked after and that’s what we are trying to do, to enable the best Irish riders get the best results that they possibly can, without having to worry about money or jobs etc.” Another new initiative this season will see the introduction of a ‘Newcomers’ licence in Ireland, which will allow first time racing cyclists to gain experience by allowing them to race with the Junior (U/18) riders for the first year. This, it hopes, will help combat the perennial problem of falling numbers in the sport and of newcomers leaving the sport because they simply find it too difficult. A position of Chief Executive of the ICF has been advertised in the national papers and it is also hoped to appoint a development officer and a national coaching officer within the coming months. With Ireland set to host the Special Olympics in 2003, plans are being drawn up for a new indoor velodrome, which in turn will see the creation of a national track racing squad shortly. There is also a bid to stage the 2004 World Road Race Championships - to be held in Killarney - in motion at present, as well as plans to stage a UCI 2.4 ranked North-South race at some stage this season.
Cassidy owns the Cycleways shop on Parnell Street in Dublin and has been sponsoring a club for the past number of years. “It just didn’t make sense for the shop to be sponsoring a team and me not riding with them really.” says the 36 year old. “This year we have Shane Connaughton, Aiden Crowley, Philip Finnegan, Adrian Hederman, and we’re talking to two other people at the minute.” Cassidy’s season strategy will also change slightly “I don’t want to put so much effort into this winter,” he says “I won’t be riding on Irish teams anymore, I think it’s time to call it a day.” So will he still be riding as a Meathman in the FBD Milk Ras this year? “Well, the team will be registered in Dublin, so I suppose it will be a Dublin team, but I’m still a Meathman” he laughs.
3rd Cats AGAIN! One of the first articles that I wrote for this site was about the good points and bad points of third category cycling in Ireland and whether it should be re-introduced this season. After tons of e-mail, all of which was for the re-introduction of 3rd cats, I am still getting more. There is a rumour going around at the moment that there will be third category racing next season, for new riders and those with no points from previous years. There is also a rumour going around that there will be a new 'novice' grade next season. This would be good for anybody starting off or anyone who hasn't raced for a few years, but for anyone who even started a race last season and decided it was too hard and never raced again, it wouldn't be open to them. The latest rumour is the introduction of a masters grade, which would see over 30's or over 35's racing with the juniors, probably a good idea, but what about any new riders under the age of 30? <Readers Responce> The sporting committee of the federation are at the moment deciding what to do about the situation and are urging clubs to tell them what they want. So, instead of e-mailing this website anymore - simply E-mail the federation at irishcyclingfed@eircom.net, Fax them at (01) 8551771, or simply write to them at Irish Cycling Federation, Kelly Roche House, 619 North Circular Road, Dublin 1. As it is already January and the racing calendar is in the process of being made out, the sooner you contact them the better. Best of luck for next season, whether you are an A, B, C, Junior, Vet, Ladies, or Masters!!!! POWER
PREPARES: (Jan 4)
While
most of us were sitting in front of a cosy fire
digesting the remnants of the Christmas turkey, or
sitting on a high stool down the local trying to prolong
the festive cheer, one man was out on his bike, in the
freezing cold, in preparation for the 2001 professional
cycling season. We ask David McCann & Morgan Fox 20 Questions <McCann's Answers> <Fox's Answers>
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Irish
Amateur Turns Pro in Italy: (By
Gerard Cromwell Dec 8) According to a Spanish newspaper,
Ireland will have another professional cyclist in it's
ranks next season. 23 year old Dermot Nally, a former
Irish junior road race champion is to turn pro for the
all-new Colombia-Selle-Italia team. Nally rode the world
U/23 road race championships in Portugal this year and
was involved in a solo breakaway early on despite being
ill on the day.
POWER
SIGNS NEW CONTRACT: (By Gerard Cromwell Nov
5) After a disaster filled season, Ciaran Power has been
offered another contract by Saint-Quentin-Oktos, he
revealed on Friday. The team will be completely
overhauled for 2002 with only Power, Laurent Paumier
(France) and Arturis Trumpauskis (Lithuania) remaining
from this years squad. Saint-Quentin will also have a
new directeur sportif for 2002. Ex-Phonak directeur,
Jean Jacques Loup brings with him Swiss riders Jean
Nuttli, Vincent Bader, Florian Ludi and Roman Peter.
McCann
Set to Win in Japan: (By
Gerard Cromwell Sept 17) Irish national road race
champion for the past two years, David McCann now looks
set to win outright the world ranked Tour of Hokkaido in
Japan today. (Tuesday) The 27 year old Belfast man took
the lead in the week long tour on day two with a fine
solo stage win that saw him finish over a minute ahead
of the main field. This ride propelled the CCC-Mat
professional into the race leaders yellow jersey and he
has held onto it ever since. Backed up by a strong Team
Ireland consisting of Paul Griffin, Tommy Evans, Mark
Scanlon and Paddy Moriarty, McCann has looked
comfortable for much of the week.
Roche
junior rides tour: (By
Gerard Cromwell Aug 10) Since it’s inception in 1978
the Junior Tour of Ireland, a six-day race for 17 and 18
year olds, has gained a reputation for unmasking future
cycling champions.That year’s first edition was won by
a skinny, young, bespectacled Dubliner named Martin
Earley. Earley later went on to become a very successful
professional rider, winning stages in both the Tour of
Italy and the Tour De France. <
Stamullen
manager Howard in collision. (Jan
28) Stamullen Road Club manager and well known cycling personality,
Gabriel Howard cheated death on Friday, when he was involved in a car
accident on > his way home from shopping in Balbriggan. The car Howard
was driving was struck by an oncoming car that had spun out of control on
a dangerous bend between Balbriggan and Gormanstown. The drivers side received
the full impact of the collision and Howard and his wife Kay, who was traveling
with him, were taken to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where Gabriel received
twelve stitches to a head wound and treatment for a hairline fracture of his left
ankle. Kay was also treated for shock. Miraculously the young driver of
the other vehicle escaped without a scratch, despite his car bursting into
flames shortly after impact. Both of > the Howard's are now recovering at
home.
FORMER
RAS WINNER CASSIDY CHANGES TEAMS: (Jan 22) Double Olympian and
twice winner of the FBD Milk Ras, Phillip Cassidy is to change teams for the
first time since 1976! The 2001 season will see the Meathman leave Navan
Avonmore to join the Dublin based Cycleways outfit.
FITZY'S
FASHIONS: Do
you remember Michael Fitzgerald? The former Junior Tour
winner, FBD Milk Ras stage winner, Ruban Granitier stage
winner and all around super sprinter? "Yeah.
Where is he now", I hear you cry! Well, today I was
watching television and all of a sudden, a familiar face
popped up on the screen - Fitzy's. There were clips of
his newspaper cuttings showing his many triumphs, his
Trek was leaned neatly against his bedroom wall and then
the man himself spoke. "I use to be a full time
cyclist, but now I'm a model." The next shot
showed the former fearless sprinter preening for the
camera in the middle of some photo shoot! I jest
not! If you want to find out more, as I bet you
do, even if only to have enough ammunition to slag him
off should he make a comeback, then watch Gerry Ryans
Citizen's, on Network 2 at 7.00 pm tomorrow (Thur. Jan
11).