Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: May 2002
The Waterford rider took a total of 35 world ranking points in the FBD Milk Rás and has now amassed 77 this year; taking 70 more should be enough to raise him into the world’s top 400 riders and earn a place in the world championship road race in Zolder this Autumn. ‘I am very motivated now to go back to America and get some more results’, he said after the FBD Milk Rás. ‘I am not thinking too much about the world championships right now – I just want to do as well as possible for the rest of the year and then we will see what happens.’ Power’s form was hampered last season by injury and misfortune, but his move to America has clearly agreed with him. ‘I am very motivated this year. The Navigators team is great and everything is working out very well.’ To mountain bike racing, and Jamie Popham finished best of the Irish last weekend in the second round of the British National Downhill MTB series. The Fiat LCV Racing rider was a fine 4th in the youth category, with Ben Reid 8th, while Tom Clogher was also 8th in the veterans race. Jamie Scott and Joe Ward finished 17th and 19th respectively in the junior and masters contests. Steven Franzoni and Colin Ross were 19th and 18th in the senior and Elite races. The second round of the cross-country NPS is taking place near Glenealy this Sunday. The venue has been moved from last year’s location due to tree-felling in Glenealy – The venue is now the other side of the mountain. Racing starts at 12 noon. To get there Take the N11 through Ashford to Rathnew. Take the R752 to Glenealy. Drive through Glenealy as if heading Rathdrum. Take the right turn at the iron railway bridge crossing over the road. take two right forks in the road and the trailhead is on the right hand side about 800m up. A five man Irish team will compete this weekend in the three-race International Police Cycling Gala in Cornhorn, the Netherlands. The First Legal/Maximuscle-backed squad comprises Jim Cassidy, Denis McCarthy, Karl Gallagher, Alan Slevin and Tosh Lavery. Finally, the Summer Track league start has been postponed due to resurfacing of the track in June. The National Track Commission will hold a workshop meeting on June 15th in the Ardboyne Hotel, starting 11.30 am, to discuss their plans for international racing. Fixtures:
Kennedy takes round 3 of women’s league: (May 29) Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC) won the third stage of the All-Cables Women’s league, held over 15 miles at the Boot Inn. Kennedy beat Susan Lavery of Garda Motorway and McNally Swords rider Grace McNally to the line, with Marica Attoressi coming home next and taking over the lead in the series. 1, Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC); 2, S. Lavery (Garda Motorway); 3, G. McNally (McNally Swords); 4, M. Attoressi (Cycleways); 5, E. Connaughton (Cycleways); 6, B. McNally (McNally Swords) League standings after 3 events: 1, Marica Attoressi (Cycleways); 2, K. Rudd (Nenagh CC); 3, G. McNally (McNally Swords); 4, R. Kennedy (Usher IRC); 5, I. Tully (Navan Avonmore ); 6, E. Connaughton (Cycleways) UCF-Dave Kane Cycles TT League (Round 9), Ballydonaghy: 1, Jonathan Dempsey (Classic Walls) 21 mins 24 secs; 2, P. Kane (Northern CC) 21 mins 25 secs; 3, B. Doherty (TotalCycling.com) 21 mins 46 secs IVCA 30 mile CP, Ashbourne: (May 27) 1, Paul Maxwell (McNally Swords); 2, P. Sinclair (Dublin Wheelers); 3, I. O’Keefe (IVCA); 4, C. Cassidy (St. Tiernans); 5, R. Howe (Newbridge Cutlery); 6, M. Tynan (IVCA)
MURPHY WINS IN EMYVALE: (By Shane Stokes May 25) Local clubman Conor Murphy was best at the end of the Champion Milk Emyvale GP, beating Lennie Kirk of Ards CC and Classic Walls’ Jonathan Dempsey to win the 75 mile event. The three riders were part of a 8 man breakaway which went clear on the third of five laps, with the decisive move being made with five miles remaining. Bray Wheelers’ Derek Cunningham outsprinted Orwell’s Dave Tansey to take fourth, winning the senior 2 Barry Murphy Perpetual Cup in the process. The Greenmount cup for juniors was won by Paul Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale), who was second in the combined Senior 3/junior/veterans race behind Newry Wheelers’ Eddie Crory. Beth McCluskey took the women’s prize, while Mick McGirr was first in the under 16 race. The under 14 and under 12 events were won by brothers Simon and Peter Williams, both of Orchard Wheelers. CHAMPION MILK EMYVALE G.P.: SENIOR 1&2: 1, Conor Murphy (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 2, L. Kirk (Ards CC); 3, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls); 4, D. Cunningham (Bray Wheelers); 5, D. Tansey (Orwell Wheelers); 6, N. Campbell (unattached). First senior 2 (Barry Murphy Perpetual Cup): Cunningham Senior 3, juniors and veterans: 1, Eddie Crory (Newry Wheelers); 2, P. Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 3, T. Hardwicke (Killorglin CC); 4, M. Gallen (Omagh Wheelers); 5, M. Burney (Maryland Wheelers); 6, P. Glendenning (Killarney CC), First junior (Greenmount Cup): Brady, First woman: Beth McCluskey (IMBRC), Under 16: 1, Mick McGirr (Lakeland CC); 2, B. Henning (Newry Wheelers); 3, R. Jones (Fintona CC), Under 14: 1, Simon Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 2, G. McAdam (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 3, M. Furphy (Lurgan CC), Under 12: 1, Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 2, S. McDonald (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 3, E. McMahon (McNally Swords) POWER SET TO WIN 2002 FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes May 25) Barring accident, Ciarán Power looks set to win this year’s FBD Milk Rás after a storming ride on the penultimate and toughest stage of the event. He may have lost a little time on Wednesday when the race hit the first category Healy Pass, but today there were no such cracks in his defence and he easily answered the challenges of his rivals. <Read More Here> <See Pictures Here> POWER IMPRESSES, GEARS UP FOR HARDEST STAGE: (By Shane Stokes May 24) For the second day running, Team Ireland Stena Line cyclist Ciarán Power foiled a concerted effort by the Great Britain team to eat into his four minute race lead before tomorrow’s crucial stage of the FBD Milk Rás. <Read More Here> STALEMATE ON STAGE FIVE: (By Shane Stokes May 23) Subdued yesterday afternoon after conceding 39 seconds to his chief rivals, Irishman Ciarán Power was back to his normal high spirits at the end of today’s fifth stage of the FBD Milk Rás. <Read More Here> NEWTON FIGHTS BACK: (By Shane Stokes May 22) The chief rival to race leader Ciarán Power showed that he had little intention of backing down in today’s fourth stage of the FBD Milk Rás, racing clear on the road to Castletownbere and claiming back some of the time that his Irish rival gained 24 hours beforehand. <Read More Here> CASSIDY GRABS STAGE, POWER TAKES YELLOW: (By Shane Stokes May 21) Today’s third stage of the FBD Milk Rás brought great fortune for Irish riders, with Phil Cassidy going one better than yesterday’s second place to win the stage and Ciarán Power snatching yellow from the shoulders of overnight leader Chris Newton of Great Britain. <Read More Here> McCann 8th in GP Winterthur: (By Shane Stokes May 21) Irish professional David McCann showed he is coming back to form after an injury-plagued early season when he placed 8th in the 1.5 ranked GP Winterthur in Switzerland. The Belfastman crossed the line 4 minutes and 46 seconds behind winner Patrik Sinkewitz (Mapei-Quick Step Espoirs), who had gone clear in a breakaway with 120 kilometres remaining in the race. ‘I tried to follow Euvgeni Petrov on a hill early on but blew’, said McCann. ‘I went back to the bunch but later got clear in a 10 man chase group, then left this group with 30 kilometres to go. I passed a few riders on the run-in to the finish, but there were still 7 in front at the line.’ Results: 1, Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Mapei-Quick Step 4.24.56 (39.31 km/h) 2, Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step, same time 3, Roman Burkard (Swi) KED/SWOCK Bianchi-Fiat, at 39 secs 4, Euvgeni Petrov (Rus) Mapei-Quick Step, at 1 min 3 secs 5, Jan Ramsauer (Swi) KED/SWOCK Bianchi-Fiat at 3 mins 35 secs 6, Kurt Betschart (Swi) Team Mixed 1 Möbel Märki at 3 mins 36 secs 7, Christian Weber (Swi) Team KEWA-Rad at 4 mins 6 secs 8, Daniel McCann (Irl) Volksbank-Ideal at 4 mins 46 secs 9, Markus Joho (Swi) Team KEWA-Rad at 4 mins 55 secs 10, Patrick Kraus (Swi) Team KEWA-Rad at 5 mins 46 secs. Starters: 101 Classified: 50 Did not finish: 51 CASSIDY GOES CLOSE; NEWTON HOLDS ON: (By Shane Stokes May 20) Meath Lee Strand Cycleways leader Phil Cassidy went close to taking a historic victory on today’s second leg of the FBD Milk Rás, losing out in a four man finishing sprint to former British champion John Tanner (Lancashire Compensation Group). Cassidy went clear with Tanner’s team-mate Kevin Dawson with 25 of today’s 102 wind-lashed miles remaining, but despite opening up a lead of over one and a half minutes on a chasing bunch behind, they eventually succumbed to the strong headwind and a determined drive by Tanner and Ben Brooks (NW England Cycle Centre RT) to get back on terms. <Read More Here> FBD MILK RAS STAGE ONE: (By Shane Stokes May 19) Great Britain riders took up where they left off last year when joint team leader Chris Newton today won the opening stage of the FBD Milk Rás and took the first yellow jersey of the 8 day event. Newton raced clear on the tight, twisting finish circuit and soloed to victory into Ballinamore, twenty seconds clear of Team Ireland-Stena Line rider Ciarán Power and the rest of a 27 man breakaway group. <Read More Here> <See Pictures Here> Riders must make a golden effort: (By Shane Stokes May 18) From Sunday, Golden Jubilee celebrants will be tearing around the country on glittering racing machines, fire in their eyes and sweat pumping. Read the full story in the Irish Times >> DIGNAM BLASTS DEPT. OF JUSTICE: (By Shane Stokes May 17) FBD Milk Rás race director Dermot Dignam has angrily criticised the Department of Justice after the Nigerian Lagos team were forced to pull out of the 8 day International event, which starts on Sunday. The Department refused to issue the required visas for the squad despite the submission of documents in recent days which disproved their claim that the team papers were forgeries. Dignam had received verification as to the authenticity of the Lagos squad through a number of sources, including an approach to cycling’s world governing body, the UCI. ‘Despite the submission of these papers the Department failed to reply to our calls and faxes in recent days,’ said an angry Dignam. ‘Their treatment of this matter, and of the team, has been shameful. It is bad enough for us here in Ireland being given the run-around over the past few weeks by our own government officials, but it is unbelievable that five Nigerian cyclists looking forward to riding in a cycle race in Ireland were rejected for no apparent reason.’ Ironically their soccer-playing compatriots had no such trouble and on Thursday beat the Irish national squad 2-1 in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. The Lagos cycling team had booked flights and had also paid a sizeable deposit towards their accommodation for their stay in Ireland. ALL-CABLES WOMEN’S LEAGUE: McNALLYS BEST IN ROUND 2: (By Shane Stokes May 16) The McNally family netted a rare one-two at the end of the second race in the All-Cables women’s league at Batterstown, with Grace winning ahead of her mother Breda and the Navan Avonmore rider Imelda Tully in an uphill dash for the line. They had benefited from a five minute handicap to the scratch group and worked well together to hold off their pursuers, who were just ten seconds down at the end of the race. Nenagh’s Kate Rudd has taken over the leadership of the league and is five points clear of Tully, with Cycleways rider Marica Attoressi third overall. The next event in the series is on Wednesday May 29th, at the Boot Hill behind Dublin Airport. 1 Grace McNally (McNally-Swords CC); 2, B. McNally (McNally Swords); 3, I. Tully (Navan Avonmore); 4, A. Cassidy (Cycleways); 5, K. Rudd (Nenagh CC); 6, R. Kennedy (Usher IRC); 7, G. McDarby (IMBRC); 6, E. Doyle (IVCA) League placings after two events: 1, Kate Rudd (Nenagh CC) 24 points; 2, Tully 19; 3, M. Attoressi (Cycleways) 18; 4, V. Considine (Usher IRC) 17; 5, G. McNally, 15; 6, B. McNally, 14; 7, O. Coady (Usher IRC) 14; 8, E. Connaughton (Cycleways) 14; 9, K. Gill (Navan Avomore) 12; 10, M. Reilly (Bohermeen) 12; 11, Kennedy, 12; 12, Cassidy, 12; 13, McDarby, 12; 14, E. Doyle (IVCA) 12; 15, S. Lavery (Garda Motorway) 10; 16, K. Jaya (USA), 7; 17, M. Geoghegan (Navan Avonmore) 1 FIAT LCV RACING LAUNCHED: (By Shane Stokes May 16) A new downhill team Fiat LCV Racing was recently launched in Bray, where the off-road squad were presented with a Fiat Ducato van as part of the sponsorship deal. The three-rider team plans to compete in the Irish national downhill series, the British national series and some world cup events this year. The riders are the promising junior competitor Jamie Popham, elite cyclist (and national downhill champion) John Lawlor and the veteran Peter Popham, while Jeremy Dawson and Eamon Lawlor are acting as the team managers. Team Fiat LCV Racing hope that they will have two members selected to represent Ireland at the world championships in Austria later this year. The new squad will promote the Bray Downhill Challenge in July, details of which were announced at the Bray Events launch on the same night. Other cycling races taking place in the Bray festival of cycling that month are the underage road race championships (promoted by Bray Wheelers) and Team Worc’s national cross-country championships. The popular seaside resort will also be the venue for a Red Bull-backed event. The ‘Force of Nature’ extreme triathlon will subject the contestants to a gruelling physical test, with 750 metres of swimming, a 15 kilometre mountain-bike race and a 5 km run facing the participants
The drama first began when the Department of Justice refused the initial visa applications on the grounds that they felt the team’s documentation were forgeries. Dignam sought to assuage concerns that the squad were not bone fide competitors by receiving verification from other sources, through direct contact with the Lagos State Sports Council, Lagos State Government, and the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, who he contacted via the UCI itself. However, despite receiving the necessary documentation which proves the authenticity of the team, Dignam has received no response to this communication with the Department of Justice. Phone calls and fax communications have gone unanswered, and a clearly frustrated Dignam is now wondering if the government officials concerned ever intended granting visas to African competitors in the first place. Dignam today contacted the secretary of the Lagos team, Babatunde Cole, in order to apologise for the ongoing situation. An excerpt from that letter appears below: ‘I…write to express my deep disappointment, embarrassment and annoyance at the state of affairs that has arisen and at the manner in which you have been treated by the Irish authorities’ Dignam wrote in the letter. ‘I am sure that all fair-minded Irish people who are interested in fair play and sporting friendship between nations will share with me in extending my apologies to you, your team and the Nigerian people’. ‘When you first contacted me in March inquiring about the possibility of obtaining an invitation to participate in the FBD Milk Rás, Ireland’s top international cycling event, I did not foresee any difficulty with your team procuring visas to visit our country. You were willing to pay your own way. Indeed, you had the financial backing of the Nigerian government and, when requested, you immediately paid a large deposit towards accommodation. I also believed that the Irish authorities were committed to promoting sport, international relations and overcoming negative race relations and prejudices and that they would see your participation in this great national event as one way to achieve those aims. I was sadly mistaken.’ The growing evidence that the Department never intended permitting the team to compete is further compounded by a later statement in the letter, where Dignam described an exchange between officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cycling Ireland. Dignam wrote: ‘Unbeknownst to me at that time (of application) my federation had already been told by an official of the Irish authorities not to invite, under any circumstances, a team from any African country except South Africa.’ This follows recent criticism of the Irish government by human rights groups for their treatment of those applying for refugee status; on the evidence of the above exchange, it seems that there may now exist a policy to prevent visits from African countries whenever possible. While there is still time for the team to granted visas and thus make the race start on Sunday, Dignam has informed the Lagos secretary that this is unlikely to happen. ‘In light of the earlier stricture from the authorities and the approach taken by the authorities, I am forced to conclude that you were never going to be given visas and for that I am truly sorry’, he stated in the letter. ‘It is difficult to see what else you could have done to persuade the authorities, who appear to have pre-judged any such applications, that you were coming to participate in this international event. It seems that from Ireland’s perspective one of the rings should be left off the Olympic flag.’ Dignam concluded the communication by expressing his hope that the team will race on the roads of Ireland in the future. ‘Unfortunately, that will not happen until attitudes have changed in Ireland’ he stated. When contacted this evening, Dignam was still clearly annoyed by the matter. ‘I am very frustrated and angry that the Department of Justice has led us up the garden path like this’, he said. ‘There is enough work in the final days before hosting a 2.5 race without being treated in this way. It is a sorry stage of affairs that we have been deprived of a team of Nigerian cyclists to take part in this, the 50th edition of the FBD Milk Rás.’ ‘I think it is very unfair, and while I am reluctant to use the term discrimination, I do think that something very strange is going on. We have provided enough evidence to show that the team is legitimate, yet the Department of Justice are still dragging their heels. They didn’t respond to the supplementary documentation sent into them and they didn’t respond to attempts to contact them this afternoon. There is a small chance that the visas could come through at this stage, and that the team could still take part, but this is increasingly unlikely. I am very annoyed and embarrassed that the team have been treated this way’, he concluded.
The decision of the management of the Cycle Superstore to sponsor this section of the site is a very important one for IrishCYCLING.com, as without the support of people such as these there was a very real danger that the site would have to wind down. Fortunately through their backing we will now be able to continue bringing you all the news and information about cycling in this country and so keep you, our valued readers, in touch with all the stories out there. <Read More Here> New Board for Cycling Ireland CYCLING IRELAND EGM: (By Shane Stokes May 14) A new-look streamlined board has been ratified at Cycling Ireland's EGM, with PJ Nolan (President), Jack Watson (Secretary), Peter Thornton (Treasurer) and the directors Michael Concannon, John News and Ciaran McKenna now making up the 6 man collection. The national governing body (formerly titled the Irish Cycling Federation) is aiming for a slimmed-down leadership in order to promote efficiency in developing cycling in the country. The new memorandum and articles of association were also ratified at the meeting in Athlone, along with the Irish Sports Council Code of Ethics for Children in Sport, which is intended to protect minors from the kind of abuses suffered by young swimmers in recent years. In all, the EGM was a busy affair with six of Cycling Ireland's Commissions presenting their strategies to the delegates. These form part of the overall strategy document which CI hope will further the development of cycling (both competitive and leisure) in this country. The afternoon session saw a workshop being run on the subject of race safety. This area has been of concern in recent years as a high number of claims have led to an increase in insurance premiums and complications in negotiating new contracts for Cycling Ireland. A new safety criteria policy has to be in place for 2003 and to further this drive, a sub committee comprising Liam Walker, Michael Concannon and Cycling Ireland CEO Eamon Duffy has been established. “Over the next couple of weeks we will be working closely with our insurers and underwriters and other bodies such as the National Standards Authority of Ireland to produce a safety criteria that will identify and minimise the risk for all in Cycling Ireland”, said Duffy. Cycling Ireland are expected to announce details of a major sponsorship deal in the near future which, Duffy says, will be of invaluable importance in developing the sport in this country.
The action got underway on the first of seven laps when a 12 man break raced ahead and opened up a lead of 40 seconds. The dozen were joined by 16 others on the second lap, from which the decisive ten man selection then went clear. Usher IRC had a clear numerical advantage with five of their team present: Colm Bracken, Paul Healion, Greg Swinard, David Byrne and David Peelo all made the group, as did Stephen 0'Sullivan (Naas Fig Roll) Philip Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand), Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey's), Stuart Gibson (Orwell Wheelers) and Hillcrest Hire’s Willie Byrne. The ten worked well together, opening up a minute’s lead over a seven man chasing group with included Eddie O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) and Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond), clearly recovering from his recent tendonitis. Gibson and Cassidy lost contact on the penultimate lap, the latter losing his chances of retaining the title he took last year, leaving five Usher riders amongst the eight still up front. Healion was determined to improve on his second place of 2001 and took advantage of this numerical superiority when he forged clear with five miles remaining in the race. O’Sullivan, Fenlon and Byrne all tried to close the gap but failed; their efforts then paved the way for successful attacks from Bracken and Peelo which completed an impressive Usher IRC one-two-three. ‘It was great to get this win today,’ said Healion afterwards. ‘I was second last year to Phil Cassidy but was determined to be first home this time and that helped a lot. I am starting to come into peak form but felt a bit sluggish today – however, I wanted this win so much that I just dug in and went for it. I got clear with about five miles to go and was dangling out there in front of the chasers, but held on to get the win.’ ‘This is a good confidence booster before the FBD Milk Rás. My goal is to win a stage during the week – I don’t have any particular one in mind, will just do my best each day to try to get up the road.’ Third placed Dave Peelo was also happy. ‘It worked out very well for the team today. Paul went clear and got a bit of a gap. For a while it looked like they might take him back, but he held on. With five riders in the final eight, the pressure was on us to get the top placings but with Paul just in front, we had to time our effort just right so as not to endanger his lead. It worked out perfectly, we went clear at the end and didn’t get too close to him.’ Less happy was O’Sullivan. The Naas Fig Roll rider proved he is coming back into form after an-illness disrupted 2001 but was disqualified from eighth place due to the fact that he was wearing the jersey of another club, rather than his current team strip. Noel Hammond Memorial, Ballyboughil. 1, Paul Healion (Usher IRC) 87 miles in 3 hours 26 mins; 2, C. Bracken (Usher IRC) at 2 secs; 3, D. Peelo (Usher IRC) at 8 secs; 4, J. Fenlon (Dan Morrissey) at 10 secs; 5, W. Byrne (Hillcrest) at 15 secs; 6, G. Swinard (Usher IRC); 7, D. Byrne (Usher IRC) both same time; 8, A. Donnellon (Dublin Wheelers) at 1 min 12 secs; 9, E. O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 1 min 45 secs; 10, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 11, J. Peppard (McNally Swords); 12, T. Hughes (Stamullen M. Donnelly) all same time Kelly/Roche Classic: 1, T. Ferris (Dublin Wheelers) 2, M. Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 3, A. McMahon (McNally Swords); 4, D. Dukes (Usher IRC); 5, P. Halpin (McNally Swords); 6, S. Kennedy (Avonmore Navan) First woman: Gillian Martin (Bray Wheelers); First unplaced junior: Shane Turner (Bann Valley); first unplaced veteran: Tosh Lavery (Garda DPC First Legal) Silver Pail GP, Fermoy: (May 12) Senior 1 race: 1, Martin O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 2, K. McMahon (Earl of Desmond) at 2 secs; 3, S. Kelly (Galway Bay CC) same time; 4, T. Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 3 secs; 5, R. Clarke (Cycleways Lee Strand) same time; 6, S. Lacey (Earl of Desmond) at 1 min 30 secs Other placings: Senior 3: Conor Bartley (Fermoy CC); junior: Cian Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); veteran: Sean McIllroy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); under 16: M. Lucey (Killarney CC); under 14: J. O’Sullivan (Killorglin CC); under 12: A. O’Connor (Killorglin CC) SCANLON OUT OF FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes May 12) One week before the start of the FBD Milk Rás, one of the Irish team’s strongest riders has been forced to pull out of the race due to tendonitis. Former world junior champion Mark Scanlon had suffered with the complaint since the recent Circuit Des Mines pro-am event and despite a period of rest, his ankle flared up on a training ride on Friday. ‘Mark’s ankle has been at him ever since the Circuit des Mines,’ said Team Ireland- Stena Line manager Declan Byrne. ‘His club told him to take ten days off the bike and he thought it had healed up okay. He went out on Thursday without problems, but when he tried a longer, harder spin on Friday it tightened right up again.’ ‘It is disappointing for Mark as he could have done well in the Rás. He is going to have to take more time off the bike. I think his plan is to come back from France to see his physio Gerard Hartman and get treatment.’ Scanlon’s place on the team has been taken up by Italian-based Dermot Nally. Nally has been in flying form this season, taking three wins in Italian events, and is hoping to land a professional contract later this year. Meanwhile, the squad leader for the Team Ireland – Stena Line squad has received a timely boost to his confidence before the race. Navigators professional Ciarán Power placing fifth on the third stage of the prestigious pro event, the 4 Days of Dunkirk, on Friday. POWER FIFTH ON STAGE OF FOUR DAYS OF DUNKIRK: (By Shane Stokes May 11) Twelve months after breaking his collarbone in the finishing sprint of a stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk event in France, Irish rider Ciarán Power raced home an excellent fifth on stage three of the 2.1 world-ranked race. The Navigators professional finished close to winning rider Jean Patrick Nazon - and ahead of sprint specialists Jimmy Casper and Jeremy Hunt - in the bunch finish which decided the 99 kilometer stage to Douvrin. The result is his best in two years, and bodes well for his chances in next week’s FBD Milk Rás. Power will lead the five man Team Ireland-Stena Line national selection in the 8 day race..
Elsewhere in France, Ciarán Power finished in the main bunch at the end of the opening stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk event. <Read More by Shane Stokes Here> IRISH TEAM OUT OF LINCOLN GP: (By Shane Stokes May 10) The Irish team due to take part in the Lincoln GP this weekend has been forced to pull out of the race after the squad was hit by illness and injury. Three of the four riders due to take part in the world-ranked British event have been temporarily sidelined due to the after-effects of the recent Circuit des Mines race in France. National road manager Declan Byrne explains that Paul Griffin has a touch of tendonitis, while David O’Loughlin and Brian Kenneally are still suffering from the flu and crash-induced injuries which led to their respective retirements from the French event. ‘It is a big pity but three of the guys have been off the bike since the Circuit des Mines. It is a pity that there will not be an Irish team in the race on Sunday, but there was little point in just throwing together a squad for a race as tough as that.’ ‘I think the three guys should be okay for the FBD Milk Rás next week. Paul is in touch with me every day about the tendonitis and hopefully it will be gone soon. Brian is still in a bit of a heap after his crash on the first stage of the Circuit des Mines but he is recovering, while David still has the after-effects of the flu.’ The Team Ireland-Stena Line national squad for the FBD Milk Rás – which starts Sunday week - is Griffin, Navigators professional Ciarán Power, Mark Scanlon, Tommy Evans and Timmy Barry. EVANS WINS STAGE OF ESSOR BRETON: (By Shane Stokes May 9) VC La Pomme rider Tommy Evans showed he is coming into good form for the FBD Milk Rás when he won the second stage of the Essor Breton in France. Evans outsprinted Jesus Vilchez of the Bretagne team and U Plouvien’s Lilian Jegou at the end of day two of the 2.12.1 race from Landivisiau-Inzinzac. Serge Oger (VC Dinan) led home the main bunch 17 seconds later. Elsewhere in France, Ciarán Power finished in the main bunch at the end of the opening stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk event. NALLY TAKES GREEN JERSEY: (By Shane Stokes May 7) Following on from his fine win on the second stage, promising young Irishman Dermot Nally secured victory in the green jersey classification of the Giro d'Abruzzo in Italy when he placed fourth on the final stage. The 21 year old Maltinti Lampadari rider was part of a seven man breakaway group which raced clear 35 kilometres from the end of stage three and swiftly built a lead of one and a half minutes. Fending off a late charge from the main bunch, the group reached the finish with 21 seconds to spare. Here Nally placed fourth in the sprint behind Italians Alessio Ciro and Luigi Bonfrate, plus the Ukrainian Maksym Rudenko, and thus took the points classification in the prestigious race. NALLY TAKES ITALIAN VICTORY: (By Shane Stokes May 6) Italian-based Irishman Dermot Nally took his third win of the season when he won the second stage of the prestigious under 23 contest, the Giro d’Abruzzo. The Maltinti Lampadari team rider instigated the decisive three man breakaway 110 kilometres into the race and at the finish in San Vito Chietino he out-sprinted Alexander Kuchinski (Belarus) and Italian Giuseppe Romano to land a fine win. Clifden GP: 1, R. Whelan (Navan); 2, S. Coughlan (Dunamond Dynamos); 3, D. Nugent (Western Lakes); 4, M. Devins (Eire Og CC); 5, M. McNena (Usher); 6, N. Forde (Galway Bay CC) Senior 2: C. Keane (Galway Bay CC); Senior 3: R. Campbell (Galway Bay CC); Junior: W. Britton (Eire Og); Veteran: T. Toole (Mayo Wheelers) Kilconly CP Festival: 1, M. O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick); 2, D. Nugent (Western Lakes); 3, R. Whelan (Navan) Senior 2: N. George (Castlebar CC); Senior 3, D. Donoghue (Western Lakes CC); Junior: W. Britton (Eire Og); Veteran: D. Woods (Western Lakes); Under 16: M. Nestor (Shannonside CC); Under 14: J. Nugent (Western Lakes); Under 12: E. Scanlon (Eire Og) IVCA CP, Black Bull: 1, Steve Flynn (Obelisk) 40 miles in 1 hour 55 mins 5 secs; 2, F. Harte (McNally Swords); 3, B. Dack (IVCA); 4, P. McInerney (Dublin Wheelers); 5, L. Williams (IVCA); 6, B. Byrne (IVCA)
Riders of the calibre of Martin O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) missed the move but despite a big effort to close the gap, he and the rest of the field were forced to play a supporting role today. With the break working well together the bunch quickly lost time, slipping to three minutes down by the halfway point and then fading further afterwards. Tim Ahern (UCD) forged ahead with two laps to go but was hauled back; other attacks followed but failed to stay clear, paving the way for a sprint of 13 riders at the end of the race. Farrell beat Thomas and Moran to take the victory, with Tim Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) and Dylan Rafter (St. Tiernans) next home. In the other races, Dublin Wheelers rider Pat Byrne won the combined Senior 3/Junior/Veteran event while Marie Reilly (Bohermeen) took the women’s trophy. Conor Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers), Michael Daly (Swords CC) and Mark Nestor (Shannonside) won the under 12, under 14 and under 16 events. Waller Cup, Bohermeen: Senior 1&2 race: 1, Colm Farrell (Navan Avonmore); 2, G. Thomas (Finglas Ravens); 3, A. Moran (Finglas Ravens); 4, T. Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand); 5, D. Rafter (St.Tiernans); 6, T. Ahern (UCD); 7, D. Ryan (Staggs Lucan); 8, S. Corrigan (Dublin Wheelers); 9, D. Tansey (Orwell Wheelers); 10, S. Gibson (Orwell Wheelers) all same time First senior 2: Moran Senior 3/Junior/Veterans: 1, Pat Byrne (Dublin Wheelers); 2, J. Kelly (McNally Swords); 3, P. Brady (Emyvale); 4, S. Turner (BVRC); 5, K. Daly (McNally Swords); 6, T. Ferris (Dublin Wheelers); 7, S. Kennedy (Navan Avonmore); 8, R.Cullen (Autoview); 9, C. Crowley (Balbriggan); 10, K. Gallagher (DPC First Legal) Women: 1, Marie Reilly (Bohermeen); 2, L. Moriarty (Dublin Skip); 3, O. Coady (Usher IRC); 4, S. Lavery (DPC First Legal) Underage: u/12: 1, Conor Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers); 2, D. Murphy (Newry Wheelers); 3, A. Benner (Drogheda Wheelers). U/14: 1, Michael Daly (Swords CC); 2, C. Murphy (Newry); 3, M. McAree (Emyvale CC); 4, J. Kane (Emyvale); 5, E. Lynskey (Navan); 6, D. Browne (Navan). U/16: 1, Mark Nestor (Shannonside); 2, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers); 3, A. Coyle (Shannonside); 4, D. Dunlop (Lakeland); 5, U. Monks (Bray); 6, M. McGirr (Lakeland); 7, P. Nolan (Shannonside); 8, J. Whelan (Swords); 9, R. Price (Bray); 10, M. Scott-Lennon (Bray)
Colm Bracken (Usher IRC) led home the main field 1 minute and 5 seconds later. The race continues tomorrow with two stages; a hilly 71 mile road stage and a 3.6 mile evening time trial. Results: 1, Brendan Doherty (Total Cycling.com) 39 miles in 3 hours 2 mins 14 secs; 2, R. Holden (Isle of Man) at 1 sec; 3, D. Easton (Total Cycling.com) same time; 4, D. Gardiner (Apollo CC) at 3 secs; 5, T. Hogan (Earl of Desmond); 6, A. Roche (Isle of Man) both same time; 7, P. Kane (Dave Kane Northern) at 1 min 2 secs; 8, C. Bracken (Usher IRC) at 1 min 5 secs; 9, E. O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) ; 10, R. Blaney (NICF) both same time. <Full Results Here>
Meanwhile in the Circuit des Mines, Paul Griffin and Martin O’Loughlin were the sole finishers of an Irish team decimated by illness and injury. Griffin finished 23rd and 64th on yesterday’s two stages to end the race in 59th place, while O’Loughlin finished 67th and 68th for an eventual final position of 68th. Mapei-Quickstep rider Gian Paolo Cheula was the final winner of the event. 'It was a hard race but good preparation for the FBD Millk Ras', said Griffin afterwards. 'I was a bit disappointed with the way I was going - I think I was stronger three weeks ago. I feel I went into the race a bit tired, and at this level it is very important to be on top form'. After his strong ride earlier this year in the Tour of Saudi Arabia, Griffin was hoping to further impress the Collstrop pro team at the Circuit des Mines. Although he didn't perform as he wished, the Earl of Desmond rider is not panicking. 'There is a lot of time left in the year - I plan on racing abroad with Team Ireland for much of June and July and hopefully I can do something then. I am still in contact with them so we will see how things go'. Ruban Granitier, stage 6. 1, Barrie Clarke (Great Britain)
3 hours 32 mins 44 secs; 2, C. Meneghetti (VC Roubaix); 3, B. Legrix
(Normandie) both same time; Other: 39, A. Duff (Panorimmo 23), at 36
secs Circuit
des Mines. Stage 7: 1, Jimmy Casper (La Francaise Des Jeux) 2
hours 1 min 25 secs; 2, L. Bak (EDS Fakta) at 1 sec; 3, A. Davis (Mapei-Quickstep)
same time. Irish: 23, P. Griffin, same time; 67,
M. O’Loughlin, at 1 min 7 secs Major Sponsorship Deal Imminent: (By Shane Stokes May 3) The national governing body, Cycling Ireland, is to receive the substantial boost of a major sponsorship deal, to be announced shortly. Read the full story in the Irish Times >> |
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