Cycling Round Up

Archives: April 2003

IRISH PROFESSIONALS CONFIRMED FOR FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes Apr 28) The prospects of an Irish winner in the FBD Milk Rás have been boosted by the news today that the 2002 champion Ciarán Power has been cleared by his US pro team Navigators to line out in next month’s world-ranked race. Power and fellow US-based professional David O’Loughlin will spearhead a strong Irish team in the eight-day Tour, with the five man squad also comprising the 1996 winner Tommy Evans, Vincent Gleeson and Andrew Donnellan.

Power’s participation is a big plus for the national squad as there was uncertainty as to whether the Navigator team’s busy schedule would enable him to return to Ireland for the May 18th start. A large number of foreign squads will travel for the 2.5 ranked event and, with a big increase in the standard of the competition since it graduated to the international calendar, a top-notch Irish squad is essential.

Power and O’Loughlin are building their form at present and their solid rides in last week’s Tour of Georgia in the US show that they should be in fine shape in the FBD Milk Rás. Both have ridden well this season, with Power taking several good placings in European events and O’Loughlin dominating the domestic scene here and winning the world-ranked Archer Grand Prix in England one month ago.

Evans took a number of good placings in the Tour of Langkawi at the start of the season and last week returned home from his French base to win the Tour of the North. Gleeson and Donnellan have also been riding well of late, and will play vital support roles for Power and O’Loughlin in the FBD Milk Rás.

Race organiser Dermot Dignam will announce the foreign line-up later this week.

O’LOUGHLIN TAKES FINE 16th OVERALL IN TOP US TOUR: (By Shane Stokes Apr 28) Irish pro David O’Loughlin finished a fine 16th overall at the end of the 2.3 ranked Tour of Georgia, riding strongly against the best riders on the US professional circuit and showing that he is in line for some top results once he returns to full-time racing this summer. The Ofoto-Lombardi rider finished as part of the main bunch at the end of yesterday’s final stage of the prestigious event, won by David Clinger, with O’Loughlin’s ride ensuring he held onto his position in the top twenty and also helping his US squad to a fine fourth overall in the team classification. He ended the race just 1 minute and 47 seconds behind the final winner Chris Horner of the Saturn team.

Ireland’s other rider in the race, Ciaran Power, was 92nd on yesterday’s stage in Atlanta and finished in 82nd position overall, 25 minutes and 19 seconds behind Horner. The 2002 FBD Milk Rás champion played a demanding supporting role during the tour, sacrificing his own ambitions in his efforts to try to ensure that early leader Henk Vogels held onto his yellow jersey.

Both Irish riders will continue their build up for the US Pro series in June. O’Loughlin has been studying in the University of Limerick this year, but will shortly be able to dedicate himself totally to his professional career once term ends.

Tour of Georgia, USA (2.3) stage 5, Atlanta circuit race: 1, David Clinger (Prime Alliance Cycling Team) 142 kilometres in 3 hours 3 mins 40 secs; 2, F. Rodriguez (Caldirola-Sidermec); 3, M. Di Biase (Formaggi Pinzolo); 4, M. Angel Meza Flores (Schroeder Iron); 5, H. Vogels (Navigators) all same time

Other: 35, D. O’Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) same time; 92, C. Power (Navigators) at 1 min 14 secs

Final general classification: 1, Chris Horner (Saturn) 23 hours 1 mins 36 secs; 2, Rodriguez, at 7 secs; 3, N. O'Neill (Saturn) at 13 secs; 4, M. Barry (US Postal) at 21 secs; 5, D. Zabriskie (US Postal) at 25 secs

Other: 16, O'Loughlin, at 1 min 47 secs; 82, Power, at 25 mins 19 secs

RAFTER TAKES DUNDALK TRADERS CUP: (By Shane Stokes Apr 28) One point off an ‘A’ licence following a second place in the Stamullen GP plus third and fifth on stages of the Gorey 3 day, St. Tiernan’s rider Dylan Rafter yesterday secured his category upgrade in style when he won the Dundalk Traders Cycle Cup race. The St. Tiernan’s rider went clear in the closing stages of the 63 mile event, racing alone into the finish with a 20 second lead.

Prior to the race, Rafter had decided to back off for a few more weeks before moving up, resolving to ride for his team-mates rather than going for placings himself. So, when he and Andy Lakes moved clear in a 15 rider breakaway group 2 miles into the 63 mile event, things looked to be going to plan. ‘Myself and Andy got into the early move and we rode hard to open up the gap over the main bunch,’ he said afterwards. ‘There were a lot of people sitting on but with a few of us going through, we opened up a gap of about 2 minutes.’

Going onto the final lap, 13 riders remained up front, including the in-form Stamullen M. Donnelly rider Colm Crawely, who rode strongly last weekend in Gorey. The group was a bit too big so Rafter decided to try to break things up a bit in order to improve Lakes’ chances in the sprint. But when he applied the pressure, he found himself clear of the break. ‘I went to the front and put up the speed a bit, but when I looked back I was moving away from them. Although I wasn’t going flat out, I had a good gap so I decided to keep going. I had wanted to hold off a little longer before getting the A licence, but I had also told myself that if I had the chance to actually win a race, I wasn’t going to turn it down…’

Next across the line was Crawley, who won a hard fought sprint over Michael Greene from the Phoenix club and Navan Avonmore’s Derek Finnegan. Lennie Kirk (Ards CC) bested Emerald rider Oliver McQuaid and Totalcycling.com’s Bo Graham in the senior 3/veterans contest.

Dundalk Traders Cycle Cup: 1, Dylan Rafter (St. Tiernan’s CC); 2, C. Crawley (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC) at 20 secs; 3, M. Greene (Phoenix CC Belfast); 4, D. Finnegan (Navan Avonmore RC); 5, N. Campbell (unattached); 6, K. Daly (McNally Swords CC)

Senior 3/Veterans: 1, Lennie Kirk (Ards CC); 2, O. McQuaid (Emerald CC); 3, B. Graham (Totalcycling.com)

GUERRA TAKES SHAY ELLIOT MEMORIAL: (By Shane Stokes Apr 27) Italian professional Alessandro Guerra raced to a fine victory today on the streets of Bray, winning a three-up sprint at the end of the gruelling Shay Elliot Memorial and taking the top points available in the world-ranking event.

Read the full Elliott report here...

O'LOUGHLIN RIDES WELL ON TOUGHEST STAGE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 27) Irish professional cyclist David O'Loughlin rode well on yesterday's penultimate stage of the Tour of Georgia in the US, a tough 176 kilometre leg which took the riders over two major climbs. The terrain caused the field to fragment into many pieces and enabled a six man break to go clear, with O'Loughlin riding strongly to finish in a small chase group 1 minute and 23 seconds back.

The Mayo cyclist placed 18th on the stage and is a good 16th overall going into today's last day of America's biggest stage race. His performance is a fine one, especially as he has spent the last few months combining his cycling career with a degree course in the University of Limerick. O' Loughlin is likely to experience a big improvement in performance once he returns to full-time racing on the American circuit in June.

Meanwhile Ireland's other pro in the race, Ciaran Power, had a tough day yesterday trying to ensure his Navigators team mate Henk Vogels retained the overall lead. Vogels was distanced on the day's final climb and despite the efforts of Power and the rest of the team to get him back on terms with the leaders, they lost time and eventually crossed the line 21 minutes down. Power is now 84th overall, 24 minutes and 4 seconds behind the new overall leader Chris Horner of the Saturn team, who finished second to Fred Rodriguez (Caldirola-Sidermec) on yesterday's stage.

The world-ranked Tour of Georgia concludes today with a 142 kilometre circuit race in Atlanta.

Tour of Georgia (2.3) stage 4, Dalton - Gainesville: 1, Fred Rodriguez (Caldirola-Sidermec) 176 kilometres in 4 hours 49 mins 22 secs; 2, C. Horner (Saturn); 3, A. Iacuone (Flanders-IteamNova.com); 4, R. Green (US Postal); 5, M. Barry (US Postal); 6, D. Zabriskie (US Postal) at 5 secs

Other: 18, D. O'Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) at 1 min 23 secs; 101, C. Power (Navigators) at 21 minutes

General classification after stage 4: 1, Chris Horner (Saturn) 19 hours 57 mins 57 secs; 2, N. O'Neill (Saturn) at 12 secs; 3, Green, at 18 secs; 4, Rodriguez, same time; 5, Barry, at 21 secs

Other: 16, O'Loughlin, at 1 min 46 secs; 84, Power, at 24 mins 4 secs

POINTS FOR SEYMOUR AND McCAULEY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 27) Athens 2004 aspirants Robin Seymour and Jenny McCauley picked up more world ranking points yesterday in the E1-ranked Brianza Cup MTB race in Italy. Riding on a fast, mainly flat course, Seymour found himself in the third group of riders after the start of the men’s event but picked his way up through the field to eventually cross the line 19th of 90 starters, 7 minutes and 5 seconds behind winner Julien Absalon of the GS Motorex Bianchi team. Seymour was 17th of the over 23 division and with the first 20 taking world ranking points, he adds to the total already accumulated this year.

McCauley was 16th of 30 starters in the women’s race, also taking UCI points, having ridden strongly despite an infection in her leg which necessitated a course of antibiotics. She finished 9 minutes and 15 seconds behind US Filago Cap rider Annabella Stropparo. There was no joy for Ireland’s other entrant Tarja Owens, who had mechanical problems on the first lap and was forced to retire. Also listed as a DNF was Richie McCauley, who withdrew after three laps of the men’s race.

Yesterday also saw a strong ride from Irish junior champion Lewis Ferguson, who performed at a level above what he has achieved before in international competition. Ferguson started at the back of the grid in the Junior race but carved his way through the field to finish 14th, just five minutes off the time set by Manuel Tochterle (GS Sportwrein). There were 45 starters in the event and his ride, combined with what he has already achieved in domestic competition to date, suggests that a bright future is in store.

‘It was a brilliant ride from the back of the grid,’ enthused team manager Geoff Seymour. ‘Lewis has never raced to this level before.’

Brianza Cup, Italy (E1): Men: 1, Julien Absalon (GS Motorex Bianchi) 1 hour 55 mins 49 secs; 2, J. Zoli (KTM International) at 4 secs; 3, R. Paulissen (Siemens Mobile Cannondale) at 36 secs; 4, J. Hermida (GS Motorex Bianchi) at 58 secs; 5, T. Dietsch (GS Motorex Bianchi) at 1 min 13 secs

Other: 19, R. Seymour (Ireland) at 7 mins 5 secs

Women: 1, Annabella Stropparo (US Filago Cap Arreghini Colnago) 1 hour 31 mins 48 secs; 2, A. Huber (KTM International) at 46 secs; 3, R. Boog (Holland National Team) at 1 min 59 secs; 4, S. Klose (Ralph Denk) at 3 mins 6 secs; 5, M. Brunati (US Filago) at 3 mins 39 secs

Other: 16, J. McCauley (Ireland) at 9 mins 15 secs

Juniors: 1, Manuel Tochterle (GS Sportwrein) 1 hour 25 mins 9 secs; 2, A. Tiberi (KTM International) at 7 secs; 3, H. Pollinger (Sunshine Racers) same time; 4, D. Marmsoler (Sunshine Racers) at 8 secs; 5, G. Clara (SC Alta) at 50 secs

Other: 14, L. Ferguson (Ireland) at 4 mins 59 secs

LYNCH DUO DOMINATE UP NORTH: (By Shane Stokes Apr 27) Twenty-four hours before their scheduled participation in the Shay Elliot Memorial race, French-based Denis Lynch and his twin brother Daniel gave an exhibition of strength with a dominant ride in the John Beggs Memorial in Dromore. The two went clear as part of a ten-man group on the first of seven laps, with Denis Lynch (VC La Pomme) then attacking alone and Daniel (Kanturk Credit Union) marking the chasing efforts of Kirk Sloan (Ards CC), Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland), Paul Bloomer (Harps CC) and Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC).

The chasers gradually dropped back to the main bunch, leaving Daniel to join up with his brother and the duo then to begin to opening up what was ultimately a massive gap at the end of the 100 kilometre race. Denis sprinted clear at the end to win by three seconds, while in the gallop for third last year’s victor Aiken pulled his foot out of the pedal, leaving Willie Hamilton (East Antrim CC) to lead home Paul Mulligan of the Crannog Ireland club.

In the other races, Jim McConnell (West Antrim CC) forged a two-minute solo win in the senior 3/junior/veteran event. Urban Monks (Bray Wheelers) beat Killarney CC’s Sean Doyle to win the under 16 race, which was a selection for the youth Olympics. Thomas Kane (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale) and Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) were best in the under 14 and under 12 events.

John Beggs Memorial, Dromore: 1, Denis Lynch (VC La Pomme) 100 kilometres in 2 hours 55 mins 51 secs; 2, Daniel Lynch (Kanturk Credit Union) at 3 secs; 3, W. Hamilton (East Antrim CC) at 8 mins 47 secs; 4, P. Mulligan (Crannog Ireland); 5, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) all same time; 6, D. Finnegan (Navan RC) at 15 mins 21 secs; 7, S. Turner (Bann Valley CC) same time; 8, P. Savage (Whirline West Down) at 19 mins

Senior 3/junior/veteran event: 1, J. McConnell (East Antrim CC) 80 kilometres in 2 hours 15 mins 38 secs; 2, A. Deane (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford) at 2 mins 20 secs; 3, P. Brady (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale); 5, M. Nestor (Shannonside) both same time; 5, J. Dill (East Antrim) at 3 mins 33 secs; 6, V. Tubridy (Slane Cycles CC) same time.

Under 16: Urban Monks (Bray Wheelers); 2, S. Doyle (Killarney CC); 3, T. Jensen (Sorrento CC); 4, C. Lannigan (Killorglin CU CC); 5, S. Wright (Kanturk CU CC); 6, M. McAree (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale).

Under 14: 1, Thomas Kane (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale); 2, N. Bleaks (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale); 3, C. Jensen (Sorrento CC).

Under 12: 1, Peter Williams (Orchard Whs.); 2, W. Boyd (XMTB); 3, R. Bekesius (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale).

O’LOUGHLIN GEARS UP FOR BIG DAY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 26) Ofoto-Lombardi team leader David O’Loughlin is psyched up going into today’s crucial, penultimate stage of the world-ranked Tour of Georgia. The Irish professional finished yesterday’s third stage from Pine Mountain to Rome in 18th place, crossing the line in the same time as the victorious former national US champion Fred Rodgriguez, and is now 23 seconds off the race lead in 16th overall.

Fellow professional Ciarán Power (Navigators) finished 2 minutes 35 seconds back yesterday and is now 82nd overall. His role today will be to try to ensure his team-mate Henk Vogels stays in the yellow jersey of race leadership, although today’s two big climbs will make things difficult for the Australian sprinter.

O’Loughlin will however be going all-out in his bid for a strong finish in the 2.3 ranked race. A good climber, the Mayo rider should fare well on the race from Dalton to Gainesville, a stage which has been pinpointed by all as the real shake-up point of the 2.3 ranked Tour. He is certainly motivated. ‘Today was hard, but I'm really looking forward to tomorrow (Saturday),’ he said after stage 3. ‘I have moved up to 16th overall and by the end of tomorrow hopefully I'll be into the top 10.’

Tour of Georgia (2.3). Stage 3, Pine Mountain – Rome: 1, Fred Rodriguez (Caldirola-Sidermec) 222 kilometres in 5 hours 27 mins 40 secs; 2, D. Clinger (Prime Alliance); 3, A. Cruz (US Postal); 4, U. Murn (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé); 5, C. Horner (Saturn) all same time

Other: 18, D. O’Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) same time; 90, C. Power (Navigators) at 2 mins 35 secs

General classification after stage 3: 1, Henk Vogels (Navigators Cycling Team) 15 hours 8 mins 35 secs; 2, C. Horner (Saturn) at 6 secs; 3, N. O’Neill (Saturn Cycling Team) at 7 sec; 4, J. Leiswyn (7UP/Maxxis) at 14 secs; 5, D. Clinger (Prime Alliance) at 15 secs

Other: 21, O’Loughlin, at 23 secs; 82, Power, at 3 mins 4 secs

O’LOUGHLIN, POWER POISED FOR CRUCIAL STAGE OF TOP US RACE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 25) Irish professional cyclists David O’Loughlin and Ciarán Power continued well on yesterday’s second stage of the Tour of Georgia in the US. The two riders came home as part of the large main bunch and remain close in time to that of race leader Henk Vogels, with O’Loughlin just 21 seconds back in 21st place and Power a further six seconds in arrears.

Ofoto-Lombardi team leader O’Loughlin looks to be well poised for tomorrow’s penultimate-day showdown in the Appalachian Mountains, which is certain to determine the final outcome of the race. 'It's been good so far,' he said after the stage, 'but the harder stages are yet to come. I have good legs, and so I am looking forward to them. So far it's been pretty controlled. I'll be aggressive towards the end of the stages.'

Power too is very close to yellow, although he may be asked to sacrifice his chance of a high final placing in favour of the Navigators’ overall contender Vassili Davidenko.

Like the rest of the team, Power had a long, tough day in the saddle yesterday defending Henk Vogel’s race lead, but the squad succeeded in reeling in each threatening breakaway. With Power and the others paving the way for a mass bunch finish, Vogels placed third on the stage and retained his lead. The race continues later today with an undulating 222 kilometre ride from Pine Mountain to Rome.

Tour of Georgia, USA (2.3): Stage 2, Macon – Columbus: 1, Moreno Di Biase (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé) 202 kilometres in 4 hours 7 mins 45 secs; 2, F. Rodgriguez (Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval); 3, H. Vogels (Navigators); 4, C. Dionne (Saturn); 5, K. Monahan (7UP/Maxxis)

Others: 19, D. O’Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports); 64, C. Power (Navigators) both same time

General classification after stage 2: 1, Henk Vogels (Navigators Cycling Team) 9 hours 40 mins 57 secs; 2, C. Horner (Saturn) at 4 secs; 3, N. O’Neill (Saturn Cycling Team) at 5 sec; 4, J. Leiswyn (7UP/Maxxis) at 12 secs; 5, P. Zajicek (Saturn) at 13 secs

Other: 21, O’Loughlin, at 21 secs; 36, Power, at 27 secs

IRISH RIDE WELL ON DAY TWO:  (By Shane Stokes Apr 24) Following solid rides in the opening prologue time trial on Tuesday, Irish riders David O’Loughlin and Ciarán Power both continued strongly on yesterday’s first stage of the Tour of Georgia in the US. The Irish duo finished to the fore of the 140 rider professional field, with both coming home as part of the 81 rider main bunch which crossed the line in the same time as winner Henk Vogels.

O’Loughlin finished 22nd on the tough stage and is best placed of his Ofoto-Lombardi team in 22nd place overall, just 17 seconds off the race lead of Vogels. Power finished 30th yesterday and is 38th in the general classification, 23 seconds back.

Today’s second leg takes the riders 202 kilometres from Macon to Columbus. The crucial day of the race is likely to come on Saturday’s penultimate stage, which takes the riders high up into the Appalachian Mountains.

The Tour of Georgia is one of the most important races on the American calendar.

Tour of Georgia, USA (2.3) Stage 1, Augusta – Macon: 1, Henk Vogels (Navigators Cycling Team) 223 kilometres in 5 hours 28 mins 20 secs; 2, M. Flores (Schroder Iron Cycling Team); 3, U. Murn (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé); 4, F. Rodriguez (Caldirola-Sidermec-Saundier Duval); 5, M. Gerosa (Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval) all same time

Other: 22, D. O’Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports); 30, C. Power (Navigators Cycling Team) same time

General classification after stage 1: 1, Henk Vogels (Navigators Cycling Team) 5 hours 33 mins 16 secs; 2, N. O’Neill (Saturn Cycling Team) at 1 sec; 3, C. Horner (Saturn Cycling Team) at 3 secs; 4, J. Leiswyn (7UP/Maxxis) at 8 secs; 5, E. Wohlberg (Saturn Cycling Team) at 10 secs

Other: 22, O’Loughlin, at 17 secs; 38, Power, at 23 secs

RIDERS GEAR UP FOR SHAY ELLIOT MEMORIAL:  (By Shane Stokes Apr 24) One of the biggest races on the Irish calendar takes place this Sunday when the world-ranked Shay Elliot Memorial is fought out on the roads of Wicklow. More...

FIRST TWO PARK RACES OFF: 

Three months after the announcement of the resumption of cycling races in the Phoenix Park, Cycling Ireland has been forced to cancel the first two events which were scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Following long negotiations, the Park Authorities had agreed to permit a number of events to take place there this year but ongoing roadworks now mean that the April 29th and May 13th events will not go ahead. Racing will commence on May 25th.

‘Cycling Ireland regrettably announce that the races scheduled for the Phoenix Park on Tuesday April 29th and May 13th have been cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control,’ said the governing body in a press release this week. ‘Racing will commence after May 25th. Cycling Ireland is extremely disappointed that they were forced to make this decision, however no alternative could be taken as on going road works have not been completed.’

It is as yet unclear as to whether the relevant Park authorities will grant two further dates, to make up for the races lost.

The list of scheduled events (as per January 2003) is as follows:

• Tuesday April 29th (now cancelled)

• Tuesday May 13th (now cancelled)

• Saturday May 25th

• Saturday June 14th

• Tuesday July 1st

• Tuesday July 15th

• Tuesday July 22nd

• Tuesday August 19th

• Sunday September 21st

O’LOUGHLIN, POWER GET TOUR OF GEORGIA UNDERWAY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 22) US based Irishmen David O’Loughlin and Ciarán Power started one of their biggest assignments of the year yesterday evening, when they lined out for the prologue time trial of the inaugural Tour of Georgia. The 2.3 ranked six day race is one of the most important on the American racing calendar and the two riders’ teams are keyed up for a strong performance this week.

Despite a lack of international racing this year, O’Loughlin got things off to a strong start when he was best of his Ofoto-Lombardi team in the technical race against the clock. The Mayo rider set a time of 5 minutes and 13 seconds for the 4.2 kilometre test, just 15 seconds slower than the victorious Saturn rider Nathan O’Neill, and finished 23rd of the 140 starters. Ciaran Power was six seconds slower than O’Loughlin but nevertheless finished a solid 43rd.

Today’s stage takes the riders 223 kilometres from Augusta to Macon, the birthplace of musicians Little Richard and Otis Redding. The race is likely to be an aggressive one, with three intermediate time bonuses up for grabs before the riders reach the a tough finishing circuit in Macon. Here they will climb the steep Coleman Hill three times before the final dash to the line, where bonuses of ten, six and four seconds are up for grabs for the first three home.

Tour of Georgia, Georgia, USA (2.3). Prologue time trial, Savannah: 1, Nathan O’Neill (Saturn) 4.2 kilometres in 4 minutes 58 seconds; 2, C. Horner (Saturn) at 4 secs; 3, G. Henderson (7UP/Maxxis) same time; 4, J. Lieswyn (7UP/Maxxis) at 6 secs; 5, E. Wohlberg (Saturn) at 8 secs

Other: 23, D. O’Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) at 15 secs; 43, C. Power (Navigators Cycling Team) at 21 secs

SCANLON RIDING SOLIDLY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 22) Ag2r professional Mark Scanlon has ridden strongly in two recent French cup events, the Grand Prix de Denain last Thursday (April 17th) and the Tour de Vendée on Sunday. The first of the two 1.3 ranked races was won by Palmans-Collstrop rider Bert Roesems in a three-up sprint, with Scanlon coming home as part of a 14-strong group which was sprinting for 9th place, some 40 seconds later. The young Sligoman was 16th.

Three days later, his Ag2r team-mate Jaan Kirsipuu was fastest in an eleven-rider gallop at the end of the Tour de Vendée. Scanlon was part of a 32 man group going for 12th place, 57 seconds later, and crossed the line in 24th position.

Grand Prix de Denain, France (1.3), April 17: 1, Bert Roesems (Palmans-Collstrop) 196 kilometres in 4 hours 30 mins 39 secs; 2, E. Poitschke (Team Wiesenhof); 3, T. Voeckler (Brioches La Boulangère) both same time; 4, P. Bourguenoud (Jean Delatour) at 7 secs; 5, F. Guesdon (FDJeux.com) at 18 secs; 6, J. Engoulvent (Brioches La Boulangère) at 31 secs

Other: 16, M. Scanlon (Ag2r) at 40 secs

Tour de Vendée, France (1.3), April 20th: 1, Jaan Kirsipuu (Ag2r Prevoyance) 4 hours 26 mins 12 secs; 2, C. Dacruz (FDJeux.com); 3, J. Pineau (Brioches La Boulangère); 4, A. Geslin (Brioches La Boulangère); 5, A. Flickinger (Ag2r); 6, J. Voight (Credit Agricole) all same time

Other: 24, M. Scanlon (Ag2r) at 57 secs

EVANS WINS P&O IRISH SEAS TOUR OF NORTH: (By Shane Stokes Apr 22) Home on a brief break from racing with the VC La Pomme team, Tommy Evans showed the benefits of regular top-level competition in France when he took two stages plus the overall in the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North. Riding with the Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford squad, Evans was fastest in the second stage on Saturday and then defended his lead right through to the finish yesterday, despite all of the efforts of his rivals to depose him.

Evans got his campaign underway with a modest tenth in the opening prologue at Stormont, six seconds off the winning time of Northern Dave Kane rider Owen Jeffries. Day two saw him stake his claim for race victory with a fine solo breakaway towards the end of the stage to Downpatrick, going clear with ten miles remaining and eking out a 33 second margin of victory over team-mate Denis Easton. Evans then defended his leader’s jersey with a good ride on the stage 3 time trial, finishing in the runner-up position some 37 seconds down on specialist Michael Hutchinson, and then came home safely in the bunch on that afternoon’s road race stage to Bangor which was won by fast-finishing 21 year old Scotsman Evan Oliphant.

The strong Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford were proving to be the dominant team in the race, with Evans and Gary Crory heading the overall and mountains classifications and the squad successfully controlling any bids to upset these leads. Underlining this superiority, Denis Easton won a fourteen man sprint to take stage five on Monday, and then Evans himself showed his finishing speed to take the final stage yesterday in Dundonald, ahead of Ards CC rider Lennie Kirk. That left the former national champion 1 minute and 2 seconds ahead of Oliphant in the final overall standings. The first year senior Ryan Connor finished a further 15 seconds back in third, an impressive performance but one which made further nonsense of his participation in a senior 3 event in Balbriggan two and a half weeks ago.

Crory was the final winner of the King of the Hills classification with team-mate Easton sharing joint second with Phoenix CC's Matthew Ward.

P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North, prologue time trial at Stormont: 1, Owen Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane Cycles) 1 mile in 2 mins 8 secs; 2, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) 2 mins 9.21 secs; 3, E. Oliphant (Scotland U23) 2 mins 9.38 secs; 4, G. Rose (South Wales) 2 mins 9.61 secs; 5, M. Ward (Phoenix CC) 2 mins 10.49 secs; 6, B. Doherty (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars) 2 mins 13.21secs; 7, A. Profitt (Artic RT) 2 mins 13.55 secs; 8, D. Easton (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars) 2 mins 13.64 secs; 9, K. Sloan (Ards CC) 2 mins 14.10 secs; 10, T. Evans (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars) 2 mins 14.52 secs.

Stage 2: 1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) 79 miles in 2 hours 33 mins 16 secs; 2, D. Easton (Total Cycling.com) at 33 secs; 3, E. Oliphant (Scotland Under 23) at 35 secs; 4, M. Sewell (Cycle Centre RT) same time; 5, R. Connor (NICF) at 46 secs; 6, G. Crory (Total Cycling.com) same time

Stage 3 individual time trial, Bangor: 1, Michael Hutchinson (NICF) 7.7 miles in 15 minutes 39 seconds; 2, Evans 16 mins 16 secs; 3, Connor, same time; 4, B. Morrow (East Antrim) 16 mins 35 secs; 5, E. Oliphant (Scotland) 16 mins 38 secs; 6 B. Doherty (Total Cycling.com) 16 mins 46 secs

Stage 4, Bangor: 1, Evan Oliphant (Scotland); 2, M. Ward (Phoenix); 3, O. Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane); 4, F. Duncan (Northern Dave Kane); 5, L. Kirk (Ards CC); 6, B. Stewart (Northern Dave Kane

Stage 5, Ballymena: 1, Denis Easton (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) 78 miles in 2 hours 59 mins 20 secs; 2, B. Steward (Northern Dave Kane); 3, B. O’Brien (Classic Walls); 4, W. Hamilton (East Antrim); 5, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls); 6, K. Sloan (Ards CC) all same time

Stage 6, Dundonald: 1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) 80 miles in 2 hours 52 mins 3 secs; 2, L. Kirk (Ards CC); 3, D. Easton (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford); 4, M. Holmes (Artic RT); 5, W. Hamilton (East Antrim); 6, P. Ferguson (Toyota North Down) all same time

Final overall: 1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) 10 hours 34 mins 2 secs; 2, E. Oliphant (Scotland Under 23) at 1 min 2 secs; 3, R. Connor (NICF) at 1 min 17 secs; 4, M. Sewell (Cycle Centre RT) at 1 min 44 secs; 5, N. Kenwright (South Wales) at 1 min 45 secs; 6, D. Easton (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) at 1 min 46 secs; 7, B. Doherty (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) at 1 min 51 secs; 8, G. Crory (Total Cycling/Lindsay Ford) at 2 mins 9 secs

AA King of the Hills 1, G. Crory 14 points; 2, M. Ward and D. Easton, 12.

CYCLING IRELAND TRACK EVALUATION THIS SATURDAY AND MAY 10TH: (By Shane Stokes Apr 22) With the B world championships approaching, Track Cycling Ireland will this Saturday hold the first of two evaluation sessions in Orangefield, Belfast, in order to identify the standard of riders who are aiming to line out in Switzerland this July. The evaluation sessions will see riders compete in a range of events on the 400 metre Tommy Givan stadium track, as listed below.

Sprint: Flying Start – 200mtr (Overall Time) Endurance: Standing Start - 8 Lap (Overall Time) Sprint: Standing - 2 Lap (Overall Time) Endurance: Flying - 5 Lap (Timed First Lap, second lap and Overall Time) Sprint: Flying - 1 Lap (Overall Time) Paced Massed Start event: Total 30 Laps, First 20 laps paced, last 10 laps free and timed.

The events are open to Cycling Ireland licence holders over 18 years of age, and a fixed-gear bike must be used. The sessions will cost €7 or £5 sterling. 

LETTER FROM ABROAD - JOHN DEMPSEY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 22) Having previously competed abroad in France and, last season, in Belgium as part of Cycling Ireland’s Team Ireland project, John Dempsey has decided to spend the year racing with the EC Mayenne team in Normandy. This is the third of his much-appreciated contributions to Irishcycling.com.

Hi all,

I have been kept busy during the last few days, what with getting a new bike and riding three races over the weekend. However before this I have had a light programme of racing and training since I was speaking to ye all last. This has allowed me to get over a heavy training and racing programme in March. As a result of cutting back a bit my form has improved dramatically; no longer am I going into the races tired so now I am able to compete in the races instead of just riding for the team and following wheels.

Last week I rode Redon-Redon a 1.12.1 race of 160km with 192 starters. My sole aim for this race was to finish, as in March this simple aim was beyond me in the biggest races. The race was run over a 50km circuit followed by another circuit of 58km and then 6 laps of an 8km finishing circuit. The race started off very fast, averaging 45km in the first hour over roads that were far from flat. A break went away after the first circuit then the race settled down as two team rode on the front of the bunch to try to keep the gap down.

The second circuit was flatter but included a 1km climb (42x19) that split up the bunch - luckily I was well placed at the front and did not miss the split. One of the teams that had been chasing succeeded in getting their entire team dropped!! After the climb things settled down a bit with a group of 15 succeeding in getting clear of the bunch. The impetus had gone out of the bunch at this stage but on reaching the finishing circuit and hearing that we were only 2 minutes down, the race re-ignited. The finishing circuit was very hard with a 600m climb up through the finish. One or two small groups clipped off the front of the bunch but I did not attempt to go with them, as there was no guarantee that I could manage the climb 6 times. However I managed to achieve my goal of finishing in the bunch without being too extended. People may say ‘wow, big deal, you finished in the bunch’ but it did my confidence good to finish 160km with some petrol still in the tank.

Last weekend I was only listed to race on Saturday and Sunday but I ended up racing on Monday as well. I missed Ras Mumhan so much that I had to do my own French version! On Saturday I raced in a place called St-Gereon near Nantes. It was 17 laps of 6.5km with 12 corners and a 500m climb.. .FUN!! It was a strange race as it stayed together for a long time…admittedly it was in a line together but it was strange that no early break stayed away. I went away in a few early moves that all were brought rapidly to heel. I decided to sit tight and wait for the last 3 laps, then make my move on the climb. With 5 km to go a wheel was let go in the line and a group eased clear. This was to prove decisive. I attacked with 3 to go and went clear with a small group that never made any headway into the leaders’ advantage. We were picked up on the last lap but I finished 4th in the gallop for 21st. The result on paper is not very impressive, but I was very pleased with my form.

On Sunday we rode in Pleine Fourges in Brittany. This race bore all the hallmarks of a Belgium Kermesse - 26 laps of a 5km circuit with primes every 2 laps. Last year I did not like racing in Belgium so it was strange that I was to get my best result in a race that reminded me so much of Belgium. I was very active from the word go, determined to make the early break. After 5 laps I was away in a group of 12 that included my English team mate Jonathon. We never got more that 1 minute on the bunch but we stayed clear all day. It was a hard circuit with a 1km climb but the hardest part was the primes every two laps, as the finish line was half way up a 400m drag. Not only were people going for the primes but they were also using the drag as a launch pad for attacks.

I won one of the early primes but decided against contesting any after that as a result was more important to me that picking up a tenner here and there and risking getting dropped. The attacking started with 40km to go to the finish; as Ritchie Cahill would say, "it was savage". However the group was evenly matched and was all together with 2 laps to go. Jonathon launched a strong attack and got a nice gap, so I was left babysitting the rest of the break which killed my legs. On the last lap 4 guys got up to Jonathon, and then an English guy called Phil Evans clipped clear and won. Jonathon finished 4th while I came in for 10th place - I was very happy with this as it shows that my form is heading in the right direction. It has also boosted my confidence, and probably my manager’s confidence in me as well!

In the team car on the way home I was asked if I wanted to race on Monday, which I agreed to as I reckoned that since I have got a result there would no pressure, and it would be excellent preparation for the Ras. Jonathon's parents were over visiting so he declined the offer. This meant that out of the 13 riders on the team I was the only one to race three days, my French team mates think that I am a bit nuts. As it turned out I was going better on Monday than the previous two days. It was one of those days were you can’t feel the pedals, my recuperation was brilliant. Yet the race was one of the most frustrating I have ever rode - it was really negative. Twice I rode the bunch off my wheel on a climb, only for a group to come up to me on the descent and then refuse to do any work!!! It was like riding an underage race. It ended with a group of 16 going clear with 4 of my teammates in it, so I could relax for the rest of the race and just ride around in the bunch. Even though the race was frustrating I was delighted with my form and the team were happy that I was able to handle three days in succession.

As I mentioned at the top of this piece I got a team bike, although that is not technically true as I am the only one on the team to get a bike. It is an Orbea with Colombus Mattis O2 tubing, a Campag Centura group set and Mavic Cosmos wheels. It's a lovely bike although it is hard adjusting from Shimano to Campag. The frame is in Eusketel orange, so to say it is bright is an understatement. With the bike comes an added bit of pressure that I have to produce results to justify the investment the team have made in me. None of this pressure is coming from the team as they are very laid back, but from myself. But a bit of positive pressure is not a bad thing.

Off the bike, not a lot has happened in the last few weeks. The major development in our lives has been getting a phone line in the apartment which means that I can get my internet fix every day instead of once a week - Happy Days! Other than that our days are filled with training, eating (lots of eating) and watching DVD's. It only costs €1 50 to get a DVD out over here so we have been cleaning out the local store. On that subject, do not watch "Driven" - it is possibly the worst movie of all time. "A Beautiful Mind" and "Oceans Eleven" on the other hand have to be watched. I have also managed to read on average two books a week but I am in trouble now as I have none left. I have to find an English bookstore fast or else I will have to fill my days writing mind-numbing articles (for you dear reader, for me they are witty and informative!) for Irishcycling.com.

Anyway, that's all for now. I gotta go watch a DVD….

Happy Cycling

John

HARDWICK ON TOP, COLBERT ON FORM: (By Shane Stokes Apr 21) Killorglin’s Theo Hardwick today secured a fine win in the Dublin Skip Gorey 3 Day, safely maintaining his slender advantage over the many rivals who were within striking distance of his race lead. Principal threats to his lead were second-placed Danny Lynch (Kanturk), who won both stages yesterday and was just five seconds in arrears, and stage one winner Andrew McQuaid (Emerald), 13 seconds back. However a total of sixteen others were within one minute of the yellow jersey and with 54 miles of rolling, gusty roads, the second year junior was facing a tough day in the saddle. Read the full Gorey 3 Day Report Here...

DAWSON HOLDS OFF LATE CHARGE BY MORIARTY: (Report By Shane Stokes Pictures by Gerry McManus Apr 21) Defending champion Kevin Dawson today succeeded in his efforts to win the 2003 Ras Mumhan in Kerry, limiting his losses to just three seconds over closest rival Paddy Moriarty of the Hibernian Team Ireland squad and ending the four-day event six seconds clear. Moriarty staged a last-gasp effort to overhaul the English Life Repair rider, jumping clear in the closing stages of the 58 mile circuit race but was unable to gain sufficient advantage to move into yellow. He finished second overall with team-mate Tim Barry in third. Read the full Ras Mumhan Report Here...

Pictures of Ras Mumhan Go Here...

SEYMOUR WINS E2 EVENT AT DUNDONALD: (By Shane Stokes Apr 21) Irish MTB cross country champion Robin Seymour (Team Worc) yesterday added to his world ranking points total when he won the E2 event held beside the Dundonald Ice Bowl in Belfast. The Wicklow rider finished the race in a time of 1 hour 40 minutes and 18 seconds, 2 minutes and 8 seconds clear of Banbridge CC’s Roger Aiken. British riders Adrian Lansley (Peadalon UK) and Philip Cooper (Blue Sky Cycles) were third and fourth, with Banbridge’s Don Travers fifth.

Best of the Elite women was the visiting Hargraves/Trent rider Lydia Gould, who was 49 seconds faster than Irish XC champion Tarja Owens. Scottish rider Ruth McGavigan was third.

E2 Mountainbike event, Dundonald (first round of CI NPS and also the NI League) 

Elite men: 1, Robin Seymour (Team Worc) 1 hour 40 mins 18 secs; 2, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) at 2 mins 8 secs; 3, A. Lansley (Peadalon UK) at 5 mins 36 secs; 4, P. Cooper (Blue Sky Cycles) at 7 mins 3 secs; 5, D. Travers (Banbridge CC) at 8 mins 26 secs; 6, J. Frazer-Moodie (Scotland) at 9 mins 3 secs; 7, G. Montgomerie (Scotland) at 10 mins 24 secs; 8, C. Murley (Scotland) at 10 mins 42 secs; 9, G. Kinning (X-MTB) at 11 mins 44 secs; 10, J. McCluskey (Team Worc) at 12 mins 23 secs

Elite women: 1, Lydia Gould (Hargraves/Trent) 1 hour 21 mins 43 secs; 2, T. Owens (Team Worc) at 49 secs; 3, R. McGavigan (Scotland) at 6 mins 29 secs; 4, C. Niblock (Scotland) at 11 mins 9 secs

Veterans: 1, William Mulligan (Banbridge CC) 1 hour 7 mins 27 secs; 2, K. Jensen (Sorrento) at 29 secs; 3, J. McCabe (unattached) at 1 min 20 secs; 4, C. Murley (Sandy Wallace) at 3 mins 6 secs; 5, F. O’Hagan (Newry Wheelers) at 4 mins 5 secs; 6, A. Ryan (Sorrento) at 5 mins 24 secs

Juniors: 1, Thomas Jensen (Sorrento CC) 1 hour 12 mins 28.33 secs; 2, R. Wardell (Scottish Development Squad) at 0.56 secs; 3, M. Mulvenna (Ards CC) at 2 mins 59 secs; 4, N. Davis (unattached) at 3 mins 10 secs; 5, D. Shearer (Scottish Development Squad) at 5 mins 11 secs; 6, B. Nolan (Sorrento CC) at 7 mins 17 secs

Masters: 1, Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers) 1 hour 14 mins 15 secs; 2, R. Lamont (X-Mtb) at 7 mins 9 secs; 3, C. McGreavy (Newry Wheelers) at 11 mins 29 secs; 4, P. Anderson (Banbridge CC) at 12 mins 36 secs; 5, A. Wallace (Dave Kane Cycles) at 13 mins 42 secs; 6, M. O’Hagan (Newry Wheelers) at 1 lap

Sport: 1, Peter O’Farrell (Dublin Dalriada) 1 hour 6 secs; 2, S. Galloway (Team Worc) at 2 mins 57 secs; 3, D. Askin (Irish MTB) at 3 mins 57 secs; 4, D. McGann (unattached) at 4 mins 40 secs; 5, G. McCrory (Madigan) at 5 mins 33 secs; 6, C. Burns (Apollo RT) at 7 mins 49 secs

Underage – under 16: 1, Matt Ferguson (X-Mtb) 39 mins 4 secs; 2, D. Quille (Newbridge CC) at 1 min 11 secs; 3, C. McConvey (X-Mtb) at 1 min 13 secs; 4, S. Cumming (Scottish Development Squad) at 1 min 45 secs; 5, E. Sheridan (MOB CC) at 2 mins 29 secs; 6, R. McDermid (unattached) at 3 mins 2 secs

Under 14: 1, Nathan McCormick (Banbridge CC) 25 mins 48 secs; 2, N. McGimpsey (X-Mtb) at 37 secs; 3, G. Boyd (X-Mtb) at 2 mins 24 secs; 4, A. Godfery (X-Mtb) at 2 mins 45 secs; 5, C. Brown (X-Mtb) at 5 mins 31 secs; 6, R. Beggs (Banbridge CC) at 6 mins 27 secs

Under 12: 1, Jonathan Beers (X-Mtb) 13 mins 25 secs; 2, W. Boyd (X-Mtb) at 9 secs; 3, J. Laird (X-Mtb) at 39 secs; 5, M. Gordon (X-Mtb) at 1 min 36 secs; 6, C. Wallace (X-Mtb) at 10 mins

Under 10: 1, Robert Lamont (X-Mtb) 8 mins 51 secs; 2, C. Oakley (X-Mtb) at 38 secs; 3, M. Runciman (Banbridge) at 1 min 15 secs; 4, A. Waudby (unattached) at 2 mins 17 secs; 5, C. Oakley (X-Mtb) at 2 mins 37 secs; 6, D. Runciman (Banbridge) at 3 mins 2 secs

IRISH SHINE IN HERNE HILL: (By Shane Stokes Apr 19) Cycling Ireland’s track programme received a significant boost in recent days when Keith Bannan and Peter Dunne rode strongly in the centenary Good Friday Track Meeting at Herne Hill. Held in front of an estimated four thousand spectators, the meet saw a number of high-profile professionals such as Stuart O’Grady, Brad McGee and Bradley Wiggans take part and injured Scottish star David Millar also attend.

The two Irish riders were taking part in the White Hope Sprint and performed with distinction in that contest. In the morning qualifiers both finished inside the top ten of the 26 entrants, and then rode well to get through to the semi-finals. Here Dunne (Navan Road Club) finished second, but won the minor final to finish fourth overall, while Bannan (Tile Choice-Deeside) progressed to the finals where he came up against Sport City Velo rider Matthew Crampton and Dataphonics’ Jak Kenton-Spraggan.

Kenton-Spraggan made his move with 250 meters to go but was passed by both Crampton and Bannan, who was forced to take the long way round. The two thundered towards the line where a photo finish was needed to declare Crampton as the winner.

‘Both riders did very well,’ said Cycling Ireland Track Commission Chairman Phil Collins. ‘It is a real boost for us as the squad are all working towards the B world championships this July. They had a heavy week of training but both Keith and Peter rode well.’

JEFFRIES WINS PROLOGUE OF TOUR OF THE NORTH: (By Shane Stokes Apr 18) Continuing the good form he displayed in last weekend's Stamullen Grand Prix, Owen Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane Cycles) took a fine win in the 1 mile prologue time trial of the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North at Stormont. Second last year, Jeffries beat the 2002 prologue winner Jonathan Dempsey by one second, with Evans Oliphant (Scotland Under 23) and George Rose (South Wales) third and fourth.

Tenth place went to French-based Tommy Evans (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars), who was 6.5 seconds slower than Jeffries today but who is expected to be one of the dangermen in the race. Of the other riders, British time trial champion Michael Hutchinson (NICF) was sixteenth, but is likely to figure strongly in Sunday's longer time trial.

The P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North continues tomorrow with a stage starting and finishing in Downpatrick.

P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North, prologue time trial at Stormont: 1, Owen Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane Cycles) 1 mile in 2 mins 8 secs; 2, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) 2 mins 9.21 secs; 3, E. Oliphant (Scotland U23) 2 mins 9.38 secs; 4, G. Rose (South Wales) 2 mins 9.61 secs; 5, M. Ward (Phoenix CC) 2 mins 10.49 secs; 6, B. Doherty (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars) 2 mins 13.21secs; 7, A. Profitt (Artic RT) 2 mins 13.55 secs; 8, D. Easton (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars) 2 mins 13.64 secs; 9, K. Sloan (Ards CC) 2 mins 14.10 secs; 10, T. Evans (Total Cycling/Lindsay Cars) 2 mins 14.52 secs.

MORE WORLD-RANKING POINTS FOR POWER: (By Shane Stokes Apr 17) Ciarán Power rode strongly in the Navigator team’s final European race before returning to a US programme of racing, when he placed a fine 13th in the prestigious 1.1-ranked Grote Scheldeprijs in Belgium yesterday.

The early part of the race saw five riders escaping after 85 kilometres, amongst them Irish professional Mark Scanlon of the Ag2r team. Scanlon, Jans Koerts (BankGiroLoterij), Jens Heppner (Wiesenhof), Jeff Louder (Navigators) and Allan Johansen (Team fakta) opened up a maximum lead of five minutes before they were recaptured with sixty kilometres remaining.

A flurry of attacks followed before four riders managed to open up a decisive lead. Servais Knaven (Quick Step-Davitamon), Steffen Radochla (Team Coast), Ludovic Capelle (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) and Scanlon’s Ag2r team-mate Jaan Kirsipuu broke away 15 kilometres from the finish and just hung on ahead of the pursuing main bunch to the line, where Capelle triumphed.

Power and Scanlon finished in the main bunch just one second later, with the former sprinting home in 13th place and taking 12 more world ranking points. He now heads to America and will begin his US-based campaign with a ride in the Tour of Georgia next week.

Grote Scheldeprijs, Belgium: 1, Ludovic Capelle (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) 206 kilometres in 4 hours 40 mins; 2, J. Kirsipuu (Ag2r-Prevoyance); 3, S. Radochla (Team Coast); 4, S. Knaven (Quick Step Davitamon) all same time; 5, E. Zabel (Team Telekom) at 1 sec; 6, J. Planckaert (Cofidis) same time

Other: 13, C. Power (Navigators); 76, M. Scanlon (Ag2r), same time

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE WIN FOR O’LOUGHLIN: (By Shane Stokes Apr 13) Irish professional David O’Loughlin today continued his storming season when he unleashed an impressive last-lap surge to notch up his sixth win in seven races at the Stamullen Grand Prix. The Ofoto Lombardi Sports rider left behind four other breakaway companions with five miles remaining to reach the line over 42 seconds clear, capping off what had been a calm, assured and powerful performance today.

‘I am delighted to win here, it is a great course,’ he told the watching crowd at the presentation of the Joey White Memorial cup. ‘I have raced in Stamullen many times over the past few years but never won, so I am very pleased.’

The action began on the first of six tough laps when Cycleways Lee Strand captain Philip Cassidy and the newly-promoted senior 1 Scott McDonald (Orwell Wheelers) opened a gap on the tough ascent of Snowtown Hill. Crossing the summit with a healthy amount of daylight back to the bunch, the two plunged down the descent into the Naul village and quickly opened a 40 second lead over those behind.

At the start of the second lap seven chasers set about closing this gap to Cassidy and McDonald and succeeded in doing so before the top of Snowtown, ratcheting the speed of the bunch upwards to the point where the field started to split asunder. While exhausted riders continued to slip backwards, a calm O’Loughlin made his way steadily forward, moving from bunch to chasing group and finally getting across to the head of the affairs after the third ascent of Snowtown.

That left a bunch of thirteen up front, a number which proved unlucky for McDonald who crashed out of the race later that lap. Present in the lead group were Cassidy, O’Loughlin, Denis Easton (TotalCycling.com), Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond), Andrew Donnellan (Dublin Wheelers), Joe Fenlon (Cidona Carrick), Ray Clarke (Cycleways Lee Strand), Paddy Moriarty (Dublin Skip), Owen Jeffries (Northern-Dave Kane), national criterium champion Paul Doyle (Tilechoice-Deeside) plus the Usher IRC duo of Greg Swinand and Mick Mulcahy. Working well to establish a four minute lead, this group remained together until the start of lap five when Moriarty and a determined Cassidy slipped clear before Snowtown and built a good advantage.

The move looked ominous and for a while those behind failed to make an impression on the leaders’ advantage, but following a fall by Donnellan, the chasers began to inch closer once more. Snowtown brought an end to Cassidy’s time at the head of the race, the 1999 FBD Milk Rás winner fading dramatically on the slopes as Moriarty forged clear alone, while first O’Loughlin and Griffin and then the Mulcahy/Clarke combo left the other riders behind and regrouped together up front.

That made a group of five together with six miles remaining, but despite his fine sprint finish at the end of the Archer Grand Prix in England two weeks ago, O’Loughlin had little intentions of waiting until the final gallop. Kicking once and shedding Moriarty, O’Loughlin accelerated again on the day’s final drag to draw Griffin clear and then applied the coup de grace in surging once more. Alone at last with just five miles remaining, the former national under 23 champion turned on the speed to quickly open up a 40 second lead over the three chasers and solo to what was his sixth victory since the start of the season.

Three hundred metres from the line in Stamullen village, Clarke timed his jump perfectly to catch Griffin and Mulcahy by surprise and to lead them home, in that order. A tired Moriarty crossed the line forty-odd seconds later for fifth, while shortly afterwards a battle-scarred and bloody Donnellan bravely raced in to take sixth.

‘It was tough enough out there,’ said O’Loughlin before the prize presentation. ‘It is a good, hard circuit. I was feeling pretty good so I didn’t panic when Phil Cassidy and Paddy Moriarty went with two laps to go. I decided to let them stay out there, thinking the longer the better; that said, while I knew Cassidy was struggling a bit on the climbs, Moriarty is another matter altogether so I had to keep an eye on the gap.’

‘After we regrouped, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to get rid of Paul Griffin when I went, but it worked out well in the end.’

‘David was very strong,’ said Griffin, about his rival’s final attack. ‘I went clear with him on the hill with a few miles to go, but I wasn’t able to stay with him for very long. He was absolutely motoring.’

Next up for an increasingly psyched O’Loughlin is the Tour of Georgia, which starts on April 22nd, following which the Mayo rider will contest a number of criteriums in the States and then complete his build-up for the FBD Milk Rás in May. He is expected to line out in the colours of the Irish national team, and whether or not defending champion Ciarán Power is part of that squad (his participation hinges on commitments to his Navigators team), O’Loughlin’s golden run of victories marks him out as a rider who must be considered to be in the running for overall honours.

In the day’s other races, Kanturk Credit Union Denis Lynch proved too strong in the final kilometre for St. Tiernan’s Dylan Rafter and Jay Daly (Castlebar CC), who finished marginally ahead of Orwell Wheelers’ Dave Tansey. Carlow Road Club rider Bill Millar continued his good run this season to win the senior 3 Pat Howards Memorial, while Frazier Duncan (Northern-Dave Kane) lifted the Jimmy Gough Cup and Seamus Haughney (Carlow RC) and Caroline Kearney (McNally Swords) proved best in the veterans and womens events. Kieran Enright (Kanturk Credit Union), Aaron Henry (Usher IRC) and Liam Keane came out best in the underage competitions.

Meanwhile Earl of Desmond rider Kieran McMahon was first across the line in Saturday’s Brendan Carroll Memorial, also promoted by the Stamullen – M. Donnelly club. Brian Ahern (Naas Fig Roll), Leinster champion Paul Healion (North Kildare CC) and Bray Wheeler’s rider Derek Cunningham completed the top four.

Stamullen Grand Prix, Joey White Memorial: 1, David O’Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports); 2, R. Clarke (Cycleways-Lee Strand) at 42 secs; 3, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond); 4, M. Mulcahy (Usher IRC) both same time; 5, P. Moriarty (Dublin Skip) at 1 min 20 secs; 6, A. Donnellan (Dublin Wheelers) at 2 mins; 7, O. Jeffries (Dave Kane Northern CC) at 2 mins 22 secs; 8, G. Swinand (Usher IRC); 9, J. Fenlon (Cidona Carrick); 10, P. Doyle (Tylechoice Deeside) all same time

Senior 2: 1, Daniel Lynch (Kanturk Credit Union); 2, D. Rafter (St. Tiernans); 3, J. Daly (Castlebar CC); 4, D. Tansey (Bell Orwell); 5, B. Behan (Cycleways Lee Strand); 6, J. Heraty (Staggs Lucan)

Pat Howard Memorial for Senior 3: 1, Bill Millar (Carlow RC); 2, B. Keane (Dublin Wheelers); 3, K. Moloney (Navan Avonmore); 4, P. Coll (Dublin Wheelers); 5, M. Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly)

Jimmy Gough Memorial for Juniors: 1, Frazier Duncan (Northern Dave Kane); 2, P. Brady (Emyvale); 3, K. Daly (McNally Swords); 4, M. Nestor (Shannonside); 5, C. Crawley (Stamullen M. Donnelly)

Veterans: 1, Seamus Haughney (Carlow RC); 2, O. McQuaid (Emerald CC); 3, S. Lally (McNally Swords)

Women: 1, Caroline Kearney (McNally Swords); 2, D. Booth (East Antrim/Audi); 3, K. Bothwell (Orwell)

Under 16: Kieran Enright (Kanturk Credit Union); 2, M. Murray (Clann Eireann); 3, M. O’Brien (Kanturk Credit Union); 4, A. Petrie Armstrong (Northern CC); 5, S. Rock (McNally Swords); 6, T. Jensen (Sorrento CC)

Unplaced woman: Mary Brennan (Castlebar CC)

Under 14: 1, Aaron Henry (Usher IRC); 2, G. Pyke (unattached); 3, M. McAree (Emyvale); 4, J. Kane (Emyvale); 5, A. Lynch (Kanturk Credit Union); 6, P. Ahern (Kanturk Credit Union)

Under 12: 1, Liam Keane (Kanturk Credit Union); 2, C. Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers); 3, P. Tancred (Kanturk Credit Union): 4, B. Maguire (Drogheda Wheelers); 5, D. Connolly (Navan Avonmore); 6, C. Farrell (Hillcrest Hire CC)

Brendan Carroll Memorial, Stamullen: 1, Kieran McMahon (Earl of Desmond CC); 2, B. Ahern (Naas Fig Roll); 3, P. Healion (North Kildare CC); 4, D. Cunningham (Bray Wheelers CC): 5, R. Whelan (Navan Avonmore CC): 6, E. Murtagh (Ravens CC)

Senior 2: 1, Bobby Behan (Cycleways Lee Strand); 2, J. Mason (Cycleways Lee Strand); 3, J. Heraty (Staggs Lucan CC)

Senior 3: 1, Paddy Kelly (Bray Wheelers CC); 2, M. Fitzgerald (Orwell Wheelers CC); 3, B. Caffrey (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC)

First veteran: Mick Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC); First woman: Mary Brennan (Castlebar CC)

Under 12: 1, Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers CC): 2, L. Keane (Kanturk Credit Union): 3, D. O’Brien (Kanturk Credit Union): 4, S. Enright (Kanturk Credit Union): 5, P. Tancred (Kanturk Credit Union): 6, C. Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers CC)

Under 14: 1, Aaron Henry (Usher IRC): 2, G. Pyke (unattached): 3, C. Jensen (Sorrento CC); 4, M. McAree (Emyvale CC); 5, G. Rigley (Bray Wheelers); 6, B. Hughes (Emyvale CC)

Under 16: 1, Martin Munroe (Western Lakes CC); 2, A. Coyle (Shannonside CC); 3, A. Petrie Armstrong (Northern CC); 4, K. Enright (Kanturk Credit Union): 5, G. Browne (Kanturk Credit Union); 6, M. O’Brien (Kanturk Credit Union)

DISAPPOINTMENT FOR NALLY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 13) Despite a prominent showing in the 2.HC race, first year Irish professional Dermot Nally had a disappointing end to the Tour of the Basque Country. The Paternina-Costa de Almeria rider had ridden strongly on stages three and four of the race, breaking clear early on in the stages and racking up enough points in the metas volantes to take over the lead in that classification. With team-mate Carlos Torrent second, five points back and stage four winner Marco Pinotti (Lampre) trailing by eight points, Nally looked set to take the intermediate sprints jersey all the way to the finish in Fuenterrabía.

However the Spanish-based Corkman started the penultimate stage below par, due to the fatigue of two days off the front of the bunch and the effects of an oncoming cold. Distanced early on, he finished the short 91 kilometre stage in a small group 16 minutes behind the stage winner and, crucially, was marginally outside the time limit. The disappointed Irish under 23 champion was consequently unable to start that afternoon’s concluding time trial and lost out on what would have been a fine result for a neo-pro.

Nally is hoping to ride the FBD Milk Rás in May and is aiming to continue building form over the coming months.

FINE RESULT FOR POWER: (By Shane Stokes Apr 13) Following a number of strong performances recently where he rode to pave the way for high placings by his Navigators team-mates, Irish pro Ciarán Power yesterday placed an excellent seventh in the Ronde Van Drenthe in Holland.

The 2002 FBD Milk Rás winner bridged across to the front group on the final climb of the race, and then sprinted home to the fore of the 29-strong group of riders at the end of the difficult 202 kilometre event. Power’s performance is all the more notable due to the fact that the race featured 60 kilometres of cobbled sections, a surface which his continental rivals would have far more experience of racing upon.

The Waterford cyclist had missed several weeks earlier this season due to tendonitis, but is clearly back on track.

Another Irishman will today experience the relentless juddering of cobblestones, when first year Mark Scanlon lines out as part of the Ag2r team in the gruelling Paris-Roubaix classic. The 22 year old’s selection is a big vote of confidence from the French team, as the so-called ‘Hell of the North’ is probably cycling’s most famous one day race.

Ronde van Drenthe, the Netherlands (1.3): 1, Rudie Kemna (Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team) 202 kilometres in 5 hours 6 mins 11 secs; 2, E. Baumann (Team Wiesenhof); 3, R. Grabsch (Team Wiesenhof); 4, B. Leukemans (Palmans-Collstrop); 5, I. Abakoumov (Van Hemert Groep Cycling Team); 6, R. Mutsaars (Rabobank); 7, C. Power (Navigators Cycling Team) all same time

SCANLON FOR PARIS-ROUBAIX: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) First year professional Mark Scanlon has been given another thumbs up with the news that his Ag2r team have selected him for this Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix classic in France.

The 22 year old Sligoman will be riding the third round of the World Cup in a supporting role for team leader Jaan Kirsipuu, and will be delighted to get a ride in what is probably cycling’s most famous one-day race.

Known as the Hell of the North due to its difficulty, the 260 kilometre race features 26 bone-shaking sections of cobblestones, which total 49 kilometres in total. Heading the field will be last year’s victor Johann Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon), who is hoping to win the race for the fourth time before his retirement at the end of the season.

Former world junior champion Scanlon is regarded as having huge potential and has ridden many of cycling’s big pro races so far this season, gaining vital exper

NALLY SET FOR INTERMEDIATE POINTS WIN IN TOUR OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) First year Irish professional Dermot Nally looks set to win the intermediate sprints competition in the prestigious Tour of the Basque Country after being involved in a long-distance attack for the second day running in the race, and fortifying his lead in the classification.

The Spanish-based Corkman had won the three intermediate sprints on yesterday’s stage of the 2.HC Spanish event, which is ranked just one step below the Tours of France, Italy and Spain, and today took a further seven points during a 100 kilometre breakaway on the 171 kilometre stage to Santesteban. He was clear with eventual stage winner Marco Pinotti of the Lampre team, and while he slipped backwards before the finish, is delighted with his performance. He is also now fourth overall in the King of the Mountains classification.

‘I was up the road for about 100 kilometres and picked up a load of points,’ he said. ‘My legs were very tired from being in the breakaway yesterday and I finally got dropped by Pinotti on the second last hill. I rode hard for a while to make sure I got second in the final intermediate sprint and then coasted to the finish. Tomorrow’s road race stage is short and I have a decent lead, so I am pretty hopeful.’

The race ends tomorrow with two short stages, a 91 kilometre race to Fuenterrabía and then a 13 kilometre time trial in the same area. Nally is all but assured of an excellent victory in the intermediate sprints classification, with team-mate Carlos Torrent five points back and Pinotti a full eight points in arrears. A total of nine points are available tomorrow, but with Torrent playing a supporting role, it seems almost certain that the Irish neo-pro will be celebrating the biggest result of his career tomorrow night.

Tour de Pays Basque, Spain (2.HC). Stage 4, Vitoria – Santesteban: 1, Marco Pinotti (Lampre) 171 kilometres in 4 hours 7 mins 43 secs: 2, A. Valverde (Kelme-Costa Blanca) at 3 secs: 3, A. Vicioso (ONCE): 4, D. Rebellin (Gerolsteiner): 5, M. Kessler (Telecom) all same time

Other: 106, Dermot Nally (Paternina-Costa de Almeria) at 10 mins 21 secs

Mountains: Zuarrarrate - category 2: 1, Pinotti, 6 pts; 2, Nally, 4 pts; 3, J. Luis Arrieta (iBanesto.com) 2 pts. Huizti – cat.3: 1, Pinotti, 3 pts; 2, Nally, 2; 3, Arrieta, 1.

Usategieta, cat 3: 1, Pinotti, 3; 2, R. Serrano (Labarca) 2; 3, C. Zaballa (Kelme) 1.

Saldias, cat 2: 1, Pinotti, 6; 2, S. Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), 4; 3, A. Vinokourov (Telecom) 2

Intermediate sprints: Lekunberri: 1, Nally, 3 pts; 2, Pinotti, 2; 3, M. Rutkiewicz (Cofidis), 1

Donamaria Bentak: 1, Pinotti, 3 pts; 2, Nally, 2; 3, C. Torrent (Paternina-Costa de Almeria), 1

Zubieta: 1, Pinotti, 3; 2, Nally, 2; 3, Torrent, 1

General classification after stage 4: 1, Alejandro Valverde (Kelme-Costa Blanca) 16 hours 19 mins 51 secs; 2, D. Rebellin (Gerolsteiner); 3, A. Visioso (ONCE-Eroski): 4, D. Etxebarria (Euskaltel-Euskadi); 5, I. Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) all same time

Other: 98, Nally, at 16 mins 26 secs

Intermediate sprints: 1, Nally, 16 points; 2, Torrent, 11; 3, Pinotti, 8

Mountains classification: 1, Pinotti, 24 pts; 2, Serrano, 23; 3, Arrieta, 16; 4, Nally, 14

FRUSTRATION FOR IRISH MTB TEAM: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) Cycling Ireland’s mountainbike Olympic hopefuls had a low-key showing in the Swisspower Cup in Reinach last weekend, with Jenny McCauley crashing shortly after the start of the women’s event on Saturday and pulling out due to a broken seatpin bolt. Like McCauley, Tarja Owens had been hoping to continue her good run of landing world-ranking points, but she was hampered by bad bruising suffered in a a training-ride crash several days beforehand. The Swiss-based rider limped around the course to finish outside the points in 24th place, 7 minutes and 53 seconds behind the winner Sabine Spitz of Team Merida International.

Robin Seymour also suffered a below-par performance, coming home 5 minutes and 49 seconds behind winner Ralph Naf (Merida) to place 27th in the men’s event. "I wasn't happy with my ride today", a disappointed Seymour told us after the race. "My legs just weren't firing on all cylinders…I think I may have been doing too much on the bike prior to this weekend as I didn't feel rested enough’

Former FBD Milk Rás stage winner and Irish international Richie McCauley showed that he is starting to find his racing legs again with a solid ride, finishing just four minutes behind Seymour in 38th position. Still some way off the top twenty (who got world-ranking points), McCauley will be encouraged by his improving form but also conscious that time is quickly running out for him to start amassing UCI points. This dilemma is also shared by Glen Kinning, who started strongly but faded to finish 35th under 23 rider in Switzerland.

Swisspower Cup, round 1, Reinach, Switzerland. Elite Men: 1, Ralph Naf (Merida) 39kms in 1 hour 33 mins 50 secs; 2, B. Brentjens (T-Mobile) at 3 secs; 3, L. Fumic (Germany) at 22 secs; 4, C. Ravanel (Orbea) at 42 secs; 5, J.C. Peraud (Switzerland) at 55 secs; 6, T. Frischknecht (Switzerland) at 58 secs

Other: 27, R. Seymour (Ireland) at 5 mins 49 secs; 38, R. McCauley (Ireland) at 9 mins 55 secs

U23: 1, Balz Weber (Switzerland) 39kms in 1 hour 35 mins 16 secs; 2, H. Genze (Switzerland) at 2 mins 23 secs; 3, N. Filippi (France) at 2 mins 37 secs

Other; 35, G. Kinning (Ireland) at 13 mins 17 secs

Elite Women: 1, Sabine Spitz (Team Merida International) 27 kilometres in 1 hour 15 mins; 2, Yvonne Kraft (Ghost International) at 50 secs; 3, M. Rusca (Arrows Swiss Bike) at 1 min 19 secs

Other: 24, Tarja Owens (Ireland/CMC Aigle) at 7 mins 53 secs; DNF: Jenny McCauley

DOWNHILL NPS STARTS THIS WEEKEND: (Apr 11) Round one of Cycling Ireland’s National Points Series takes place this weekend at Three Rock Mountain in Co. Dublin, with open practice running for 10 until 4 on Saturday and the race taking place from 12.30 on Sunday. The timetable is as follows:

SATURDAY Open practice- 10.00am-4.00pm

SUNDAY Sign on- 9.00am-12.00 Practice- 9.00am-12.00 Lunch/course maintenance- 12.00-12.30 Racing- 12.30 onwards Presentations- 3.45-4.00 approx

GILL THIRD IN ST RIEUL EVENT: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) Irish road race champion Geraldine Gill (VC Quintin) rode well to place third in a 50.6 kilometre road race in St. Rieul last weekend, breaking clear with two other riders. The trio finished 20 seconds ahead of the main group, with French-based Gill finishing third in the sprint.

TRACK EVALUATION DATES ANNOUNCED: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) In conjunction with Cycling Ulster, Track Cycling Ireland will be holding track evaluations on Saturday April 26th and Saturday May 10th at the Tommy Givan Memorial Stadium in Orangefield, Belfast. Further details will be available shortly from www.trackcyclingireland.com and www.cyclingireland.org.

WICKLOW 200: (Apr 11) The organisers of this year’s Wicklow 200 have opened their online entry system for the event, which takes place on Sunday June 8th. Those interested in riding can fill out the entry form and also pay the application fee by credit card, making the whole process easier and also facilitating the participation of those from outside Ireland.

Also available on the excellent website www.wicklow200.ie are route details, photographs, training advice plus a reproduction of last year’s Cycling Weekly account of the tough round-Wicklow tour.

GHENT-WEVELGEM: POWER SETS UP TEAM-MATE FOR TOP FINISH, PLACES 33rd: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) Ciarán Power’s selfless team riding once again set up one of his Navigators team-mates for a big finish in a top European event yesterday, when Henk Vogels finished a close second in the HC-ranked Ghent-Wevelgem in Belgium. The Waterford professional infiltrated a breakaway in the early stages of the semi-classic, a 26 man group which also included Vogels and their team-mate Oleg Grishkine, plus riders of the calibre of Johan Museeuw, Jaan Kirsipuu, Tom Boonen, Leon Van Bon and world champion Mario Cipollini.

Power dedicated himself to establishing a gap over the chasing main field and also protecting Vogels, the team’s designated leader for the day. And while these energy-sapping efforts eventually cost him his place in the front group, he went on to finish a good 33rd, crossing the line in a small group 6 minutes and 16 seconds behind the winner Andreas Klier and Vogels, and alongside such established names such as Tom Steels, Robbie McEwen, Viatcheslav Ekimov and the former world champion Oscar Friere.

Power’s form is clearly building quickly after his recent layoff due to injury and he looks set for a strong showing in the months ahead.

 NAVIGATORS PRESS RELEASE: HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, April 9, 2003 

Vogels 2nd at Gent-Wevelgem (UCI 1.HC)

Tough to write the tale of today's marvelous adventure. The story of the race is well documented on all the major cycling media sites, and you'll watch it on OLN or see it up close and personal on the World Cycling Productions film, so there is not much to add to the drama and heroics of the day's race. Besides, the joy, jubilation, and emotion in the Navigators camp this evening must pale in comparison to the ecstasy of the citizens of Baghdad, so today's report my take a little different spin.

Without question, the H.C. Gent Wevelgem is the most significant race that the team has contested to date, and was a major focus of the team's trip to Europe. As a division 2 team, it was a great privilege to have the opportunity to contest this event, and we are very grateful to Mr. Patrick Sercu and the organizing committee for having the confidence in the team's abilities, and extending the invitation. The team's response to the opportunity has been admirable, and they guys have worked very hard bringing their preparation up to the level of expectation. The rewards of their efforts showed today, and in spite of the illness that has plagued several members the last few weeks, the boys were ready, and focused on the challenge ahead.

The plan from the beginning was to give full support to Henk Vogels, and try to get three or four guys in the lead group on the first pass of the Kemmelberg. Everyone's energy was placed in putting Louder, Grichkine, Power, and Vogels near the front at the point we felt would be the critical period of the race. From that point, the goal would be to set Vogels up, and keep him in position to make the splits. The team worked well and when the hammer went down at about 90km, the four guys were in the front group. The first major split contained 27 riders, with Grichkine, Power, and Vogels in the group, and Louder just missing, and in the second echelon. Mission accomplished as this front group would never be caught, and the final selections would all come from these riders. First Power worked to keep Grichkine and Vogels placed, and when his efforts cost him contact with the leaders on the Kemmel, Grichkine took over the stewardship of his leader. The final assault of the Kemmel shot twelve riders clear, and Vogels was in with the leaders. Quickstep still had the numbers with Knaven, Boonen, and Museeuw, but Vogels worked hard to help create a selection that eventually set up the 5 rider finishing group. A near perfect sprint came so close to victory, but Telekom's Andreas Klier was in superlative form, and his victory was not to be denied. As an added consolation, Grichkine won the sprint from the chase group finishing ahead of speedsters Hondo, Kirsipuu, and Cipollini.

The Gent Wevelgem event marks a new chapter in the development on the Navigators Cycling Team. To have the opportunity to participate in one of the world's great cycling events, and to represent the sponsors who have contributed so much to our growth is at the same time so rewarding, and humbling. Our appreciation for the incredible support the Navigators Insurance Group has given the team and our sport can never fully be expressed in words, but it is our hope that we can continue to represent all of our supporters with bigger and better racing experiences for many years to come. For the moment, we applaud Henk and the team for a job very well done.

LONG RANGE ATTACK PUTS NALLY IN HOT SPOT SPRINTS LEAD: (By Shane Stokes Apr 10) First year Irish professional Dermot Nally has taken the lead in the intermediate sprints competition of the prestigious Tour of the Basque Country after being involved in a long-distance attack on today’s third stage of the race.

The Spanish-based Corkman broke clear with three others shortly after the start in Plencia and rode strongly to help establish their maximum lead of 14 minutes. Nally proved fastest in each of the three intermediate sprints before their eventual recapture by the main bunch, moving into the joint lead of that competition and also earning valuable television exposure for his Paternina-Costa de Almería team.

Reeled in on the slopes of the final climb of the day, Nally eventually finished 114th on the stage, crossing the line as part of a 17 rider group some 4 minutes and 29 seconds after Alejandro Valverde of the Kelme team outsprinted Italian rival Davide Rebellin and 34 others. Valverde now leads overall with two stages remaining. Nally is 99th, 6 minutes and 8 seconds back.

The Irish under 23 champion will be delighted with his performance today, a display which shows he is settling in well to the tough professional ranks. The Paternina squad will be equally encouraged and has the additional plus that Carlos Torrent is the rider sharing the lead in the intermediate sprints classification with Nally. The squad will now concentrate all their efforts on trying to ensure that one of the two retains the jersey until the 2.HC-ranked race ends on Friday.

Tour of the Basque Country:

Stage 1, Legazpia – Legazpia: 1, Iban Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) 129 kilometres in 3 hours 20 mins 6 secs: 2, A. Vicioso (ONCE); 3, T. Hamilton (Team CSC); 4, K. Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo); 5, I. Astarloa (Saeco)

Other: 104, Nally (Paternina-Costa de Almeria) at 1 min 39 secs

Stage 2, Legazpia – Plencia: 1, Angel Vicioso (ONCE) 158 km in 4 hours 1 min 45 secs; 2, I. Astarloa (Saeco); 3, A. Valverde (Kelme); 4, B. Zberg (Rabobank): 5, D. Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) all same time

Other: 88, Nally, same time

Stage 3, Plencia – Vitoria: 1, Alejandro Valverde (Kelme-Costa Blanca) 191 km in 4 hours 50 mins 15 secs: 2, D. Rebellin (Gerolsteiner): 3, F. Wegmann (Gerolsteiner); 4, D. Fofonov (Cofidis): 5, R. Serrano (Labarca-2 Café Baqué): 6, D. Di Luca (Saeco) all same time

Other: 114, D. Nally (Paternina-Costa de Almeria) at 4 mins 29 secs

Metas volantes (intermediate sprints): Vitoria, km 127: Nally; Kutxo, km 146: Nally: Trevino, km 151: Nally

General classification after stage 3: 1, Valverde, 12 hours 12 mins 6 secs: 2, Rebellin: 3, I. Astarloa (Saeco): 4, T. Hamilton (Team CSC): 5, A. Visioso (ONCE-Eroski): 6, I. Mayo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) all same time

Other: 99, Nally, at 6 mins 8 secs

Metas volantes classification: 1, Dermot Nally (Paternina-Costa de Almeria) 9 points: 1, C. Torrent (Paternina-Costa de Almeria) 9; 2, F. Cabello (Kelme-Costa Blanca) 6 points

MORIARTY ON TOP IN BEN McKENNA MEMORIAL: (By Shane Stokes Apr 6) Dublin Skip rider Paddy Moriarty today sprinted to victory at the end of a very tough Ben McKenna Memorial in Balbriggan. The hilly 88 mile race was marked by constant attacking, with a eleven man break going clear on the first lap and setting the tone for a tough day in the saddle.

This group later swelled to 32 riders as more regained contact from behind, but on the fifth ascent of the Naul the pressure was applied once more, causing 16 riders to forge clear. On the final climb of the day five riders then made their move from this fragmenting group, with Moriarty, Richie Cahill (Banteer) Ray Clarke ( Cycleways) and Usher Irish Road Club duo Greg Swinand and Mick Mulcahy opening up a decisive lead. Cahill played his hand with five miles remaining, surging ahead and establishing what seemed to be a race winning advantage of 20 seconds, but was caught agonisingly close to the finish line.

That paved the way for an eyeballs-out four man finishing sprint, with Moriarty proving stronger than a stubborn Cahill, who dug deep to take second, with Swinand and Mulcahy taking third and fourth.

Meanwhile Vincent Gleeson (West Clare) proved best in the Crowley Cup in Killarney, racing home ahead of the Earl of Desmond pair Paul Griffin and Kieron McMahon. Scott McDonald (Orwell Wheelers) was best in the Harry Reynolds Memorial in Balbriggan on Saturday.

Ben McKenna Memorial, Balbriggan: 1, Paddy Moriarty (Les Jeunes CC); 2, R. Cahill (Banteer CC); 3, G. Swinand (Usher IRC); 4, M. Mulcahy (Usher IRC) all same time; 5, R. Clarke (Team Cycleways) at 25 secs; 6, R. Whelan (Avonmore Navan RC) Senior 3/Junior/Veteran/Women: 1, Ryan Connor (Ballymena RC); 2, T. Duggan (Bray Wheelers CC); 3, C. Crawley (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC) Veteran: Sean Lally (McNally Swords CC); Senior C: Stephen Patton (Clann Eireann); Woman: Louise Moriarty (Les Jeunes)

Harry Reynolds Memorial Race, Balbriggan: 1, Scott McDonald (Orwell Wheelers); 2, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC); 3, P. Healion (North Kildare CC), 4, A. Crowley (Team Cycleways), 5, J. Fenlon (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 6, A. McQuaid (Emerald CC) Senior 2: 1, Michael Dennehy (Kanturk Credit Union), 2, T. McManus (Finglas Ravens), 3, N. O´Connor (Staggs Lucan) Senior 3: 1, Ken Moloney (Navan Avonmore RC); 2, M. Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC) Juniors: 1, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers CC), 2, C. Crawley (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC), 3, J. Lawless (Usher IRC) Veterans: 1, Oliver McQuaid (Emerald CC), 2, M. Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly RC), 3, M. Rock (McNally Swords CC)

Crowely Cup, Killarney:

Some pictures supplied by Brian McMahon

Vincent Gleeson winning and the first three 

Results Crowely Cup, Killarney: 1, Vincent Gleeson (West Clare CC), 2, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond CC); 3, K. McMahon (Earl of Desmond CC), 4, M. Slattery (Killarney CC); 5, M. Concannon (Killorglin Credit Union); 6, J. Horgan (St. Finbars CC) First unplaced senior 2: M. Healy (Dungarvan CC) Combined Senior 3/Junior/Veterans race: 1, Barry Woods (Killorglin cc); 2, S. McIlroy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers), 3, T. Hardwick (Killorglin CC); 4, R. Maes (Killarney CC), 5, L. Dunnell (Autoview); 6, A. O´Shea (Killorglin CC)

PRO ROUNDUP - POWER, NALLY ABROAD: (By Shane Stokes Apr 6) Building form after recent injury, Waterford rider Ciaran Power today finished 77th in the GP de La Ville de Rennes in France. The Navigators professional dedicated himself to team duties in the race, his effort paving the way for the eventual victory of team-mate Oleg Grishkine, who followed up on Kirk O´Bee´s win twelve months ago.

The US squad almost made it two out of two wins this weekend, with Henk Vogels winning a group sprint ahead of Criterium International victor Laurent Brochard to take second place in the Route Adelie on Friday, also a 1.3 ranked race. The race was won by Jean Delatour´s Sébastain Joly, who managed to maintain a slender two-second advantage to the line after an earlier solo attack. Power finished 65th, 3 minutes and 18 seconds back after riding strongly for the motivated Navigators team during the race.

Meanwhile Spanish-based Corkman Dermot Nally finished in the main bunch at the end of the 1.2 ranked GP Miguel Indurain in Spain yesterday. Nally came home in a 64 man pack some 6 minutes and 39 seconds behind a 34-strong front group led home by Matthias Kessler of the Telekom cycling team. Angel Vicioso (ONCE-Eroski) and Davide Etxebarria (Euskaltel Euskadi) were second and third.

BUSY SCHEDULE FOR POWER: (By Shane Stokes Apr 3) Confidence boosted by his fine sixth place on the recent third stage of the 2.3 ranked Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale, Navigator´s professional Ciarán Power will be chasing more good results in European races over the next three weeks. Power's outfit is currently fielding two teams - a home squad taking part in races such as the Redlands Classic, and his European-based selection which is mixing it with the world's best prior to returning Stateside for the Tour of Georgia later this month.

Next up on their schedule is the GP Ville de Rennes this Sunday, a race in which Power finished an excellent fourth last year. Following the 1.3 ranked French event, the team will head to Belgium for the prestigious Gent-Wevelgem (1.HC) and the GP Pino Cerami (1.3) on Wednesday and Thursday, and then on to the Netherlands to line out in the Ronde van Drenthe and the Ronde van Noorde (April 12th and 13th, both ranked 1.3). Their final assignment before heading back to the US for the Tour of Georgia is the 1.1 Scheldepris in Belgium on April 16th.

MTB COMMISSION: (By Shane Stokes Apr 3) The Mountain Bike Commission will be running a mountain bike commissaries training course in the coming weeks. All those interested in becoming Mountain Bike Commissaries should contact Cycling Ireland at pr@cyclingireland.org by 11th April.

The commission will also hold a forum dealing with this wing of the sport on Tuesday April 15th at 7.30 pm in Cycling Ireland's HQ, Kelly Roche House, 619 North Circular Road, Dublin 1.

MTB RIDERS LOOK FOR MORE POINTS: (By Shane Stokes Apr 3) The Irish MTB team will this weekend continue their campaign to amass the world ranking points necessary to ensure Olympic qualification when they line out in the Swisspower cup E2 race.

Robin Seymour, Tarja Owens and Jenny McCauley have taken UCI points in each of the races they have contested, while Glen Kinning and Richie McCauley will be aiming to get their scoring underway after missing out in the early events.

The riders must score well throughout the season in order to push their ranking to the level necessary to gain qualification for Athens 2004.

Letter from Abroad – John Dempsey: (By Shane Stokes Apr 3) Having previously competed abroad in France and, last season, in Belgium as part of Cycling Ireland’s Team Ireland project, John Dempsey has elected to spend the year racing with the EC Mayenne team in Normandy. This is the second of his much-appreciated contributions to Irishcycling.com.

Bonjour Irishcycling.com readers,

I have been in France now with four weeks so I thought it was high time I kept my promise and sent an article back.

As everyone knows the racing in France is hard but it is often living away from home that is the undoing of Irish riders. Dealing with a foreign language, a different culture, and being away from family and friends is hard and then you throw some of the best amateur racing in the world in on top of that, and you have an explosive cocktail. I hope that these articles will be able to provide an insight to Irish readers, and especially young riders who may wish to race abroad one day, on what it is like racing abroad.

I am riding for EC Mayenne in Normany, which is a Division Two team. In France teams are divided into Division One, Division One Espoir and Division Two. Mayenne would be near the top of Division Two. There are thirteen riders on the team, three Elite 3's and ten national riders. Of these, there is one from England and another from Moldovia. Four of the national riders are very good and are probably of Elite 3 standard. They are a good bunch of guys and are very easy to get along with.

I have just rode four races in the last eight days so I am well and truly wrecked at the moment; I have to admit that that is the real reason for me writing as I am too tired to do anything else! My form has being average so far but the team’s principal goals and my own personal ones (the Rás) are later in the season so there is no panic at the moment. I have being working for the team in most races so far; there is a good atmosphere in the team so everyone is willing to pull together. And the good bonus system also helps!!

The manager has praised me twice so far for the work I have done for the team. It is good to see that the work is appreciated, especially by the man that has to be kept happy! The races have very big fields….we have had two small events of 95 riders, but the rest of the races have been between 150 to 190 riders. I have being suffering the last two weeks with a sprained wrist after I was brought down in a crash on Paddy’s day. The bunch was descending at 55kph into a village when someone on the right (I was on the left) hit the kerb. I was brought down in the domino effect. I thought that I had "done a Martin” (O’Loughlin) and broken something but luckily I escaped with a sprained wrist and the usual cuts and bruises. One rider was not so lucky - he broke his ankle. Andrew McQuaid was riding that race so it was nice to have a Paddy to talk to on Paddy’s day. He did well, finishing 33rd.

The French is improving very slowly - I am ok if I am talking to someone one on one but in a group conversation I am totally lost! Anyway, that’s all the news for the moment…I had more planned but I can’t use a disk in the Internet cafe. We might be getting a phone line installed in the apartment so there will be no end to the useless info coming from France then!!! You have been warned….

A bientot,

John

p.s. I am looking for a team for the Rás so if anyone out there has a spot available, please get in touch with Shane and he will forward my contact details. Thanks!

Official press release: 31st/ 03/ 2003 – All Ireland intervarsity: (Apr 3) It is with regret that I, Tim Walsh of the University of Ulster cycling club must inform you of yet another setback in the organisation of the all Ireland Intervarsity championships (all disciplines). After pleas for all Universities to get their entries in to us the response has still been very poor- we have had a total number of 12 entries for the road race and time trial, and as a result the event has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

My thanks and apologies go out to all those who have been involved with the race, which would have been a step forward in Inter governing body relationships, as well as a fantastic event to bring to the North of Ireland for the first time. We have had interaction with all the cycling federations in Ireland- The Northern Ireland Cycling Federation, The Ulster cycling federation and The Irish cycling federation. My thanks goes out to all those involved, Including the PSNI who gladly offered their services to us, The coast road hotel in Carrickfergus, Team madigan cycling team in Carrickfergus also had a major role to play in the organisation of the event. It is unfortunate that the entries were so poor, but we must learn from this, and hope that in future, such a situation will not arise.

Again, all those who have sent entry fees you will be reimbursed, thanks to those who did enter, my apologies but the Number of entries was not sufficient to organise a race.

Best regards and yours in sport, Tim Walsh – UUJCC spokesman.

<Read Last Month's Reports Here>