Cycling Reports |
Power’s
Tour of the Future
By Gerard Cromwell (Sept 6)
Things started off on a good note with a fine 3rd place on a stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia. Alas, this was to be one of the few high points of Power’s season so far. On returning to the McCartney team base in London, Power and the rest of the multi-national squad, which also was to include Sligoman Mark Scanlon this year, were told of the financial collapse of the team and with the season already well underway, were left to search for other employment. A complete loss of motivation saw the 25 year old former FBD Milk Ras winner take two weeks off the bike, before signing with the low budget French third division team Saint Quentin – Oktos. A new lease of life saw Power claim fourth place in the Grand Prix De Lillers in his new pink and blue colours. He even rode the infamous Paris-Roubaix classic for the first time. Ridden over farm roads and cobbled sections, it was a new experience for the youngster. “Paris-Roubaix wasn’t for me.” he smiles “It was a bit dangerous. The chances of crashing were just unbelievable and we were doing Paris-Camembert two days later, so I wanted to try and do a ride there.” Power finished 20th in Paris-Camembert, just 20” behind the winner and was coming back to form. “That was one of my good rides, so far this year. I was there or thereabouts, in with a shout for the whole race.” All was going well, the form was coming back, until a crash in the sprint in the Four Days of Dunkirk saw the Waterford man carted off to hospital with a broken collarbone. “I was two weeks completely off the bike again and then two weeks just on the rollers, building it up slowly.” Power’s comeback ride was the Irish national road race championships, won by CCC-Mat professional David McCann, and a race had he been on form Power would have been favourite to win. Despite his lack of racing Power found himself in the all-important 15-man break on the opening lap, before being relegated to the chasers after about 65 miles eventually finishing seventh on the day. “The championships were my longest ride since the crash, hence the reason I blew up.” he says “I was going grand, happy enough. Seventh is actually my best place in a senior championships.” This week sees the Sydney Olympian tackle the Tour De L’Avenir in France from the 6th to the 15th. Translated into English the races name means the Tour of the Future and is billed as the under 25 Tour De France. In the past the race has unearthed some of the sports future Tour De France stars such as Miguel Indurain who won the race before going on to win the actual Tour De France five times and becoming a legend in the cycling world. The race is a chance for Power to get himself noticed as many of the top teams will be present, with directeur sportifs brandishing cheque books for any promising young stars they might find. “The Tour De L’Avenir is a big, big target for me.” says Power “I want to win a stage or the green points jersey and get another contract. I need to move on to a bigger and better team if I am to progress further. If you win a stage of L’Avenir you are virtually guaranteed a contract with a top French team.” For Ireland’s Ciaran Power it really is a tour of the future. His future depends on it. |
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.