IrishCycling.Com

ROCHE AT LAUNCH OF NEW-LOOK ORWELL TEAM: (By Shane Stokes Jan 26) Former cycling great Stephen Roche was present at the launch of the new Orwell/Dundrum SC team in Dublin yesterday. The French-based Irishman took time out from a brief visit home to attend the launch of the new-look Orwell Wheelers club, with whom he raced as an amateur.

The South Dublin team recently raised €15,000 through a unique fundraising initiative, enticing 100 companies and individuals to pay €150 each for the opportunity to be randomly chosen as one of the three official backers. The Dundrum Shopping Centre, Holfeld Pumps and the Yard Broadcasting Network (YBN) media group were the three successful sponsors and their names will appear on the redesigned team jersey for the duration of the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

The club is aiming to field teams in events such as the FBD Milk Rás, the Rás Mumhan and the Gorey Three Day this year, and will also send a squad to contest at least one women’s race in England during the season. They are also hoping to boost the numbers of members, particularly young riders, and so increase the likelihood of other riders following Roche’s example and going from club runs to a professional career in years to come.

Former top professional and Orwell Wheelers member Stephen Roche
with club rider Eddie Lynch.

‘I am really delighted to see such level of support for my old cycling club, which started me on my career’, Roche said. ‘It is terrific to see the new jersey design. I am very happy for all the Orwell/Dundrum SC members’.

Orwell/Dundrum SC members model the new team strip before an evening training spin

Before heading off to an appearance at yesterday’s UNESCO function promoting the benefits of youth participation in sport, Roche posed for photographs in Dublin’s Merrion Square. Club rider Eddie Lynch braved the elements to model the new team strip, while Noel Reid and Mary Rose O’Shea of Dundrum Shopping Centre, Martina Holfeld of Holfeld Pumps and YBN’s Pat Stewart represented the sponsors. Club riders Ronnie Brangian and Dave McLaughlin also got in on the act, showing off the stylish new jersey.

‘We’re very happy with how things have worked out’, said Dave Tansey of the club. ‘The plan is to field teams in the FBD Milk Rás, the Rás Mumhan, the Gorey and to try to get high placings in classic league events. We’ll also be sending a women’s team over to ride one of the Women’s Series races in Bedford, with the possibility of doing a stage race in the same place later in the year.’

‘The club will be running two races during the season – the Noel Hammond Memorial classic league race in May and the Stephen Roche Classic in June. We had hoped to host the national criterium championships but that’s gone to another club.’

‘In terms of other goals, we want to boost our membership, get more young people involved and also encourage triathletes to cross over to road racing. Getting new talent is important for the long-term development of any club; if we can get some young riders involved, that will lay the foundation for future success.’

TOP DUTCH OFFICAL FOR FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes Jan 26) The build up towards this year’s FBD Milk Rás continues with the news that the UCI has appointed the experienced Commissaire Frederik Haan to oversee the 2004 edition of the race. The Dutchman has officiated at top events such as the World Championships, the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race and the Tour of Holland.

He will be supported by the Irish commissaries Jack Watson, Maurice Murphy, Phil O’Brien, Michael Robb and Paul Watson in this year’s race, which will run from May 23rd-30th. The route of this year’s race will be announced shortly; according to the race organisers, it will be a mix of hard climbs and long stages. A strong international contingent is expected to travel to Ireland for the 2.5 world-ranked event.

IRISH IN MANCHESTER: (By Shane Stokes Jan 26) Several Irish riders made the journey to Manchester Velodrome at the weekend to take part in the second round of the high-profile Revolutions series. British world pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins was amongst the strong field taking part in the event. While Ray Clarke, John Blackwell, Malcolm Goggins, Micheal Concannon and Eoin Concannon lack a broad experience of this type of racing, competing in the Revolutions meet is another step towards Irish cycling’s aim to establish a strong track scene.

Clarke showed good form in winning heat one of the 1 kilometre handicap. Micheal Concannon was fourth, while Blackwell, Goggin and Eoin Concannon were third, sixth and seventh in heat three. Clarke finished ninth in the final, three places ahead of Blackwell. He was also fifth in heat two of the Kierin but placed outside the top six in the final.

Irish elite rower Siobhan Jacob is currently sidelined from that sport due to a knee injury but the particular nature of that problem means that while she cannot do any work in the boat, she is able to continue cycling without complications. Determined to develop as a track rider, she travelled over to Manchester to contest the regional track league on Friday evening. Jacob lined out against a field of male and female riders in the group one division, for those learning the ropes of track racing, and rode impressively to win the Devil Takes the Hindmost race.

‘I’ve just got a track bike and really want to improve’, she said. ‘I booked flights and went over on Friday as I needed to get some racing practice in. I started off this time racing in the novice division but will be in intermediate when I go back again in two weeks time. The good thing about the division system is that you compete and then can watch the other competitors, learning from their races.’

‘I’d really like to do the World Cup in Manchester this Easter. To do that I have to meet the qualification standards which have been laid out by the track commission – the only way to do that is to train really hard and also get experience of racing on the track.’

1km Handicap, heat 1: 1, Ray Clarke (Ireland); 2, V. Gianniosis (Greece); 3, M. Brammeier (BC PM). Other: 4, M. Concannon (Ireland)

Heat 3: 1, James Taylor (City of Edinburgh); 2, T. Smith (City of Edinburgh); 3, J. Blackwell (Ireland). Other: 6, M. Goggin (Ireland); 7, E. Concannon (Ireland)

Final: 1, H. Pritchard (Angliasport); 2, I. George (Yasumitsu Schlapp); 3, E. Clancy (Wheelspin Cycles). Other: 9, Clarke; 12, Blackwell.

Keirin: Heat 1: Kieran Page (SP Systems-Wightlink); 2, George; 3, T. Smith (City of Edinburgh)

Heat 2: 1, Jamie Staff (Team GT Bikes); 2, B. Storey (VS St Raphael/Waite Contracts); 3, J. Taylor (City of Edinburgh). Other: 5, R. Clarke (Ireland)

Final: 1, Staff; 2, Storey; 3, Taylor; 4, Page; 5, Smith; 6, George. Manchester regional track league, division 1: Devil Takes the Hindmost race, Group 1: 1, Siobhan Jacob (Usher IRC); 2,

UCI TO INTRODUCE NEW BLOOD TEST: (By Shane Stokes Jan 25) Following recent indications that some riders may have been circumventing tests for EPO by blood-boosting via transfusions, the Union Cycliste Internationale has revealed that it will be introducing a test for this method of blood-doping this season.

Speaking to the AFP agency, UCI president Hein Verbruggen said that an Australian-pioneered test had been developed which could determine, ‘in 999 cases out of 1000’, if a rider had used blood from another person of the same blood group or employed transfusions of his own, previously-stored blood.

"There is an Australian test which can determine, with more or less 100 percent certainty, whether any manipulation has taken place," he said.

The use of EPO in cycling is thought to have dropped following the introduction of tests which are able to detect traces of the substance. Blood doping via transfusions was used in the seventies and early eighties by cyclists, athletes and cross-country skiers but became less prevalent due to the use of EPO.

Last week French police claimed that taped telephone conversations between members of the Cofidis team currently under investigation suggested that blood-doping may be making a comeback. Philippe Gaumont, Cofidis soigneur Bogdan Madejak and former team-members Marek Rutkiewicz and Robert Sassone have all been questioned about the alleged supply and use of drugs.

Hein Verbruggen maintains his belief that the current scandal is an ‘isolated case’ and that the team as a whole is not involved. Conceding that some blood doping is probably taking place, he said that he didn’t believe it was widespread but that the new test would play a part in dissuading those looking to cheat.

‘We know that in endurance sports, and not just cycling, that blood doping is a problem,’ he said. ‘There are cheats who want to do it. But now, we have a way to prevent it.’

The new test is expected to be in place before this year’s Tour de France. Data released after last year’s Tour suggested that the use of EPO and other blood manipulations was dying out, with riders showing lower levels of hematocrit (red blood cells) than in previous years. This in turn would seem to indicate that the use of blood transfusions was not prevalent throughout the peloton.

NEW MTB LICENCE FOR 2004: (By Shane Stokes Jan 25) Cycling Ireland is to introduce a new MTB-only licence in a bid to encourage more off-road racers to become members of the federation. The new licence will cost €75 for members of CI-affiliated clubs, with riders able to deduct the cost of one-day licences from this total. Non-CI affiliated riders will be able to join the new CI MTB club for €5 before applying for a full licence.

Under the new system, a maximum of three one-day licences can be held in any one season. Riders will have three options for payment. They can pay the €75 euro fee straight off and receive a full licence. The second option is to purchase a one day licence for €15 euro and then pay the remaining €60 euro before the next event. Alternatively they can, following the use of the first one day licence, elect to pay €30 euro to get their second and third licences in a combined package and then pay off the remaining amount before their fourth race.

Last season a large number of riders took out one-day licences without ever becoming members of CI. The relatively small number of MTB events would appear to be a factor in this, as riders have a sparser calendar and therefore less of an incentive to pay out the full amount. CI’s new scheme is designed to address this issue, allowing new riders to try out the sport while encouraging them to take out a full licence.

Underage and junior licence fees and regulations remain unchanged from last year. Applicants should however include their MTB race category on their licence application form.

POWER AGGRESSIVE ON FINAL DAY OF TOUR DOWN UNDER: (By Shane Stokes Jan 25) Irish professional cyclist Ciarán Power posted an aggressive showing on the final day of the Tour Down Under, attacking twice toward the end of today’s 90 kilometre Adelaide City Council circuit criterium in a bid to take the stage.

The Navigators Insurance cycling team rider jumped clear inside the final ten kilometres, taking six riders with him, and then determinedly forged ahead once more when the bunch bridged to the group. However the sprinter’s teams succeeded in reeling in Power and setting the scene for a bunch gallop, where Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) held off fellow Australian Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) to take his first win of the race.

Mark Scanlon (Ag2r) finished in a group containing race winner Pat Jonker (UniSA), crossing the line 19 seconds after Cooke. He was 43rd on the stage while Power finished a further 29 seconds down in 65th.

Jonker’s fine ride over the past six days ensured the Australian achieved his dream of winning his final professional race before retirement, in front of home crowds. His best career result was 12th in the 1996 Tour de France. Robbie McEwen and Baden Cooke finished second and third overall, 1 minute 13 and 1 minute 21 seconds back respectively. Mark Scanlon was 37th while Power ended the race 45th overall.

The Tour Down Under marks the first race of 2004 for both Irishmen. They will now continue building for their spring campaign in Europe. Power is hoping to land some big results before his Navigators team returns to their New York base in April, while Scanlon’s big goal is to try to secure a ride in this year’s Tour de France. Both riders are on Cycling Ireland’s shortlist for the Olympic Games.

Tour Down Under, stage 6. Adelaide City Council circuit: 1, Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) 90 kilometres in 1 hour 43 min 19 secs; 2, R. McEwen (Lotto-Domo); 3, A. Davis (Team Australia); 4, M. Renshaw (FDJeux.com); 5, J. Kirsipuu (Ag2r Prevoyance); 6, R. Kemna (Bankgiroloterij) all same time. Irish: 43, M. Scanlon (Ag2r) at 17 secs; 65, C. Power (Navigators Insurance) at 46 secs

Final general classification: 1, Pat Jonker (UniSA) 16 hours 32 mins 19 secs; 2, McEwen at 1 min 13 secs; 3, Cooke, at 1 min 21 secs; 4, P. Gilbert (FDJeux.com) at 1 min 28 secs; 5, M. Giunti (Domina Vacanze) same time; 6, A. Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze) at 1 min 29 secs. Other: 37, Scanlon, at 37 mins 46 secs; 45, Power, at 43 mins 23 secs

Sprints classification: 1, McEwen, 36 points; 2, A. Clerc (Quick.Step-Davitamon) 30; 3, D. McPartland (Team Australia) 18

Mountains: 1, Paolo Tiralongo (Panaria-Margres) 32 points; 2, M. Gentili (Domina Vacanze) 28; 3, McPartland, 24

JONKER SET TO WIN OVERALL: (By Shane Stokes Jan 24) Australian cyclist Pat Jonker is set to win his final professional race after defending his lead on the penultimate stage of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide today. The main field splintered on the daunting ascent of Willunga Hill, just 20 kilometres from the end of the stage, and Jonker was one of fourteen riders who sped on to contest the finish. Irish rider Mark Scanlon crossed the line in 39th place, 2 minutes and 16 seconds after stage honours went to Ben Day of Team Australia.

Fellow Irish professional Ciarán Power spent most of the day riding for his Navigators Insurance team-mate David McKenzie, chasing down a dangerous breakaway move, and finished 66th, 13 minutes and 28 seconds down.

Tomorrow’s final stage of the Tour Down Under is a 90 kilometre circuit race around the streets of Adelaide. Scanlon and Power are 38th and 45th overall but with a bunch sprint almost guaranteed, the fast-finishing duo have a good opportunity to both land a high stage placing on the last day of the 2.3 ranked event.

Tour Down Under stage 5, Willunga-Willunga: 1, Ben Day (Team Australia) 147 kilometres in 3 hours 15 mins 34 secs (45.1 km/h); 2, R. McEwen (Lotto-Domo) at 4 secs; 3, B. Cooke (FDJeux.com); 4, A. Davis (Team Australia); 5, A. Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze). Irish: 39, M. Scanlon (Ag2r Prevoyance) at 2 mins 16 secs; 66, C. Power (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) at 13 mins 28 secs

General classification after stage 5: 1, Pat Jonker (UniSA) 14 hours 48 mins 43 secs; 2, McEwen, at 1 min 34 secs; 3, P. Gilbert (FDJeux.com) at 1 min 39 secs; 4, B. Cooke (FDJeux.com) at 1 min 44 secs; 5, Fisher Murillo, at 1 min 46 secs; 6, G. Figueras (Panaria-Margres) at 1 min 47 secs. Other: 38, Scanlon, at 37 mins 46 secs; 45, Power, at 42 mins 54 secs.

O’BRIEN LANDS FREERIDE RACING DEAL: (By Shane Stokes Jan 24) Irish downhill rider Glyn O’Brien has finalised a deal to compete on the freeride circuit with Cove Bikes, a North Vancouver-based manufacturer. O’Brien has raced strongly for several years in downhill races, but took perhaps his best result to date last Autumn when he finished third in the Red Bull Rampage in Utah.

The two day free-ride race saw 27 contestants compete against each other in the red hills near Zion National Park, choosing a variety of racing lines from the 1,500 foot high starting point. They were judged according to their style, racing line, fluidity and the tricks they pulled off on the way down, and O’Brien’s fine performance against some of the top names in the sport highlighted his blossoming talent.

The deal is a big boost for the Northern Ireland rider and should help him to continue to gather fine results this season. He will also conduct research and development for Cove Bikes.

UCI COACHING COURSE IN SWITZERLAND: (By Shane Stokes Jan 24) A twelve-week intensive coaching program at the UCI headquarters in Switzerland is on offer for an Irishman/woman this Spring, following an input by the UCI and the Olympic Council of Ireland. Cycling Ireland announced details of the project today, welcoming submissions from all who are already qualified as a level two coach and who are willing to use the UCI qualification to further the development of coaching through CI.

The course will begin on March 1st in Aigle and continue until the end of May. It will feature advanced training and instruction in all areas relating to cycle coaching. One place is up for grabs and with the closing date for applications falling on February first, a quick response is necessary.

‘This program has been made possible by the allocation of a substantial Olympic Solidarity Grant through the Olympic Council of Ireland’, said CI in its press release. ‘Cycling Ireland is indebted to the Olympic Council of Ireland for its support in this issue.’

Application forms and further information are available from CI, who can be contacted at 01 –8551522.

GOOD BMX RIDE BY POPHAM: (By Shane Stokes Jan 24) Promising young downhill rider Jamie Popham showed he is keeping in good shape during the off-season when he rode strongly in his first BMX event last weekend in Chesterfield, England.

The British Midlands series event attracted an entry of 160 riders across the different age groups. Popham lined out in the senior (17+) division, racing on a course about 45 seconds long which included jumps and a double tabletop, which only the fastest riders were able to clear. Popham took one fourth and two third places in the qualifying races and so progressed to the semi finals. A skilful move here saw him dive up the inside on the final turn to move up from sixth to fourth and secure his place in the final.

Popham tried the same manoeuvre in the last race but crashed out. He was nevertheless satisfied with his performance, attracting praise from some of the regulars for a good showing in his first BMX race.

The event was won by UK rider Richard Batey, who won the National BMX Series last season.

IRISH PROMINENT ON DAY 4, SCANLON FINISHES 8TH: (By Shane Stokes Jan 23) Irish riders Ciaran Power and Mark Scanlon rode strongly on today’s fourth stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia, with Scanlon sprinting home at the end of the 141 kilometre leg to Hahndorf in an excellent eighth place. The Sligoman finished in the same time as stage winner Robbie McEwen, the main group having overhauled lone leader Jaan Kirsipuu just 50 metres from the line.

Confidence boosted after his fifteenth place yesterday, Power attacked repeatedly from the drop of the flag and, at the 47 kilometre point, succeeded in going clear as part of a thirteen man group. Together with the other riders in the move, such as Tour de France stage winner Kirsipuu, he worked hard to maintain their advantage over the pursuing main field. This lead grew to two minutes after the Fox Creek Road climb but unlike previous days, the peloton were not going to back off in their chase.

As the main field started to inch back towards the break inside the last 40 kilometres, the front group began to splinter under attack and counter attack. Last year’s winner Mikel Astarloza went clear with three other riders, but his Ag2r team leader Kirsipuu regained contact with the leading quartet and then shot clear with eleven kilometres remaining. He rode flat out from there to the line but was reeled in by the charging peloton within a stone’s throw of the finish line. McEwen won the stage and moved up to second overall behind fellow Australian Pat Jonker, while Scanlon salvaged something for Ag2r when he sprinted home to an impressive eighth place.

Power crossed the line nine seconds later in 65th place, the second half of the main field splitting and so losing a small amount of time to the leaders. He is now 30th overall while Scanlon is 42nd.

The Tour Down Under continues tomorrow with a difficult 147 kilometre stage starting and finishing in Willunga. Jonker is looking increasingly likely to win his farewell race when the Tour Down Under reaches its conclusion on Sunday.

Power and Scanlon have shown good form this week and will be aiming for more high finishes in the two remaining stages.

Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under, stage 4, Unley – Hahndorf: 1, Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) 141 kilometres in 3 hours 18 mins 51 secs (42.5 km/h); 2, A. Clerc (Quick.Step-Davitamon); 3, B. Cooke (FDJeux.com); 4, A. Davis (Team Australia); 5, D. McKenzie (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team); 6, E. Putsep (Ag2r Prevoyance); 7, J. Dean (Credit Agricole); 8, M. Scanlon (Ag2r Prevoyance)

General classification after stage 4: 1, Patrick Jonker (UniSA) 11 hours 33 mins 5 secs; 2, McEwen, at 1 min 38 secs; 3, P. Gilbert (FDJeux.com) at 1 min 39 secs; 4, G. Bates (UniSA) at 1 min 44 secs; 5, A. Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze) at 1 min 46 secs; 6, Cooke, same time

Sprints classification: 1, McEwen, 24 points; 2, Clerc, 18; 3, D. McPartland (Team Australia) 16

Mountains classification: 1, Paolo Tiralongo (Panaria-Margres) 16 points; 2, A. Van Katwijk (Bankgiroloterij) 16; 3, L. Cardellini (Domina Vacanze) 16

SLIGHT INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR CI: (By Shane Stokes Jan 22) Cycling Ireland today welcomed the allocation of €239,765 in NGB funding for 2004 by the Irish Sports Council. The figure represents a gain of €2,590 over last year’s total, a slight increase but an important one in a year when twenty of the governing bodies had their funding reduced.

CI CEO Stuart Hallam welcomed the news, saying that it showed the Sports Council recognised CI’s ‘prudent use of funds last year.’

‘We are grateful to the Irish Sports Council for the 2004 award’ he said. ‘Whilst it does not allow us to introduce new initiatives just yet, the amount should enable us to continue to improve the structures of the organisation with our existing resources’.

Hallam stressed the importance of growth outside the Irish Sports Council’s input. ‘Ultimately, the organisation must grow generically through activities within the club structure if we are to fund grass roots improvements, as well as international competition. The fact, though, that our 2004 funding is similar to the 2003 award is testimony in the eyes of the Sports Council to our prudent use of funds last year’ he stated.

Cycling Ireland will also receive funding via the Athens Enhancement Scheme, which is intended to help Irish riders prepare for this summer’s Olympic Games. Details of this funding will be announced shortly by the Irish Sports Council.

GOOD LINEUP FOR ULSTER CROSS CHAMPS: (By Shane Stokes Jan 22) Four of the top six finishers in the national cyclo-cross championships have been confirmed for the Ulster champs to be held at Craigavon Lakes on Sunday 1st February. National championship silver medallist Roger Aiken, his Banbridge CC team-mate Don Travers, Apollo’s Andy Layhe and XMTB’s Robert Lamont will be jostling for the title of Ulster champion in the Co. Armagh event, guaranteeing an exciting race.

The championship is open to all riders, although only those from the province who are using cross bikes will be eligible for medals. Sign on for the Apollo CT-promoted event is from 11 am at the Craigavon Watersports Centre. An underage MTB race will start at noon, followed shortly afterwards by a MTB support race. The championships will then start at 1 pm.

More information is available from Myles at 028 38348627 (048 prefix from the Republic) or 07736687052.

POWER RIDES WELL ON STAGE THREE: (By Shane Stokes Jan 22) Navigators Insurance team professional Ciarán Power rode strongly on today’s third stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia, finishing fifteenth on a tough stage which has upended the general classification in the world-ranked race. The Waterford rider crossed the line 18 seconds after Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) had outsprinted UniSA rider Gene Bates to take the stage win. Tour de France regulars Robbie McEwen and Baden Cooke led home the rest of the breakaway group, less than a second after the leading duo.

Power was part of a group which went clear on the descent after Newland Hill, 35 kilometres after the start. After a frantic pursuit by the main bunch, a regrouping of sorts took place twenty kilometres later, but a strong Power was able to go clear once more in a sixteen rider counterattack. This group worked well together to open up a massive lead over the main bunch. By the time Gilbert, new overall leader Patrick Jonker (UniSA) and the rest of the break hit the finish line, the 49 rider main field were over half an hour behind.

This second group included Irish pro Mark Scanlon, who rode strongly yesterday but has now slipped away from a high position in the general classification. Scanlon was 63rd today and is now 42nd in the overall standings. Power’s good ride today has moved him up to 31st place, 29 minutes and 21 seconds behind Jonker in the overall standings.

The Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under continues tomorrow with a 141 kilometre stage from Unley to Hahndorf, and ends on Sunday.

Stage 3, Goolwa - Victor Harbor : 1, Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) 150 kilometres in 3 hours 28 mins 50 secs; 2, G. Bates (UniSA); 3, R. McEwen (Lotto-Domo); 4, B. Cooke (FDJeux.com); 5, G. Figueras (Panaria-Margres); 6, D. McKenzie (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team); 7, Massimo Giunti (Domina Vacanze); 8, L. Roberts (UniSA)

Irish: 15, C. Power (Navigators Cycling Team) at 18 secs; 63, M. Scanlon (Ag2r) at 33.46

General classification after stage 3: 1, Patrick Jonker (UniSA) 8 hours 14 mins 14 secs; 2, P. Gilbert (FDJeux.com) at 1 min 39 secs; 3, R. McEwen (Lotto-Domo) at 1 min 44 secs; 4, G. Bates (UniSA) same time; 5, A. Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze) at 1 min 46 secs; 6, G. Figueras (Panaria-Margres) at 1 min 47 secs; 7, L. Roberts (UniSA); 8, D. McKenzie (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) at 1 min 48 secs

SCANLON UP TO 20TH OVERALL IN TOUR DOWN UNDER: (By Shane Stokes Jan 21) Ag2r professional Mark Scanlon rode well on today’s second stage of the Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under in Australia, finishing the 157 kilometre race to Kapunda as part of a 28 rider group which came home one minute and 41 seconds behind the stage winner David McPartland.

McParland (Team Australia), Pat Jonker (UniSA) and Alain Van Katwijk (Bankgiroloterij) went clear at the start of the 157 kilometre stage, regarded as the toughest in the race. By the time they reached the feared wall-like Checker Hill the trio had built a five-minute advantage. The main bunch split to pieces on the ascent, but despite the work of the Lotto-Domo and FDJeux.com teams to haul back the first group, the leading trio reached the line 1 minute and 41 seconds ahead.

McParland took the stage ahead of Van Katwijk and Jonker, with Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke winning the gallop for fourth and so bringing home the 28 rider chasing group. Scanlon crossed the line in the midst of this pack, while the Navigators Insurance pro Ciarán Power finished 27 minutes further back in the main bunch.

Scanlon will head into tomorrow’s 150 kilometre leg from Goolwa to Victor Harbour as one of the Ag2r team’s protected riders. He was one of four riders on the French squad who made the crucial time cut today and is now 20th overall, 1 minute and 51 seconds off the yellow jersey. Power is 72nd, but may have a chance to land a high placing in the sprint finishes expected before the race finale on Sunday.

Tour Down Under stage 2, Jacobs Creek Visitor Centre – Kapunda: 1, David McPartland (Team Australia) 157 kilometres in 3 hours 43 mins 12 secs (42.2 km/h); 2, A. Van Katwijk (Bankgiroloterij) at 1 sec; 3, P. Jonker (UniSA) same time; 4, B. Cooke (FDJeux.com) at 1 min 41 secs; 5, R. McEwen (Lotto-Domo); 6, A. Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze)

Irish: 26, M. Scanlon (Ag2r Prevoyance) same time; 76, C. Power (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) at 28 mins 56 secs

General classification after stage 2: 1, McPartland, 4 hours 45 mins 21 secs; 2, Jonker, at 3 secs; 3, Van Katwijk, at 5 secs; 4, McEwen, at 1 min 51 secs; 5, G. Figueras (Panaria-Margres); 6, C. Herve (Credit Agricole) both same time, Other: 20, Scanlon, same time; 72, Power, at 29 mins 6 secs

Points: 1, McPartland, 16 pts; 2, Jonker, 16; 3, M. Renshaw (FDJeux.com) 10, Mountains: 1, Van Katwijk, 16 pts; 2, Jonker, 12; 3, McPartland, 8

McEWEN WINS, POWER AND SCANLON IN MAIN BUNCH: (By Shane Stokes Jan 20) Former Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen today sprinted to victory at the end of the disorganised opening stage of the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under in Australia. The Lotto-Domo rider was part of an eleven-man breakaway group which went clear about halfway through the 50 kilometre street race in Adelaide, opening up a considerable advantage over the main bunch by the finish.

The final sprint was thrown into chaos after the front runners lapped the main field on the short two kilometre circuit, causing difficulties for riders such as Graeme Brown and the other sprinters in the group who said afterwards that they had been impeded in the final run-in to the line.

Irish professionals Mark Scanlon and Ciarán Power finished with the majority of the other riders in the main bunch. No time differences apply on this, the first of six stages, and so the two Irish riders are on the same overall time as race leader McEwen. Both Irish riders will be hoping to perform well on tomorrow’s toughest leg of the race.

Stage two takes the riders 157 kilometre through the Adelaide hills before finishing in Kapunda. The 2.3 ranked Tour Down Under is the first race of the season for many of the professionals in the field, including Power and Scanlon.

Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under, Australia (2.3), East End Adelaide street race: 1, Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) 50 kilometres in 1 hour 2 mins 19 secs (48.1 km/h), 2, R. Kemna (Bankgiroloterij); 3, M. Renshaw (FDJeux.com); 4, G. Brown (Panaria-Margres); 5, N. Vogondy (FDJeux.com); 6, N. Portal (Ag2r Prevoyance); 7, D. McKenzie (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team); 8, P. Dawson (United Water). Irish: 41, C. Power (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team); 45, M. Scanlon (Ag2r Prevoyance)

General classification after stage 1: 1, McEwen, 1 hour 2 mins 19 secs; 2, Kemna; 3, Renshaw; 4, Brown; 5, Vogondy; 6, Portal; 7, McKenzie; 8, Dawson, Other: 41, Power; 45, Scanlon

Sprints classification: 1, Mark Renshaw (FDJeux.com) 10 pts; 2, McEwen, 8 pts; 3, A. Clerc (Quick.Step-Davitamon) 6 pts

SCANLON, POWER TO BEGIN THEIR SEASON TOMORROW IN TDU: (By Shane Stokes Jan 19) Irish professionals Mark Scanlon and Ciarán Power will get their season underway tomorrow in the 2.3 ranked Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under in Australia. The Ag2R and Navigators Insurance duo are honing their form in advance of the start of the European racing season but despite some interruptions to their preparation, are both capable of landing good results in the six-day race.

Scanlon has been nursing a rib injury sustained in the gym while Power was temporarily sidelined earlier this month due to a cold. Speaking to IrishCycling.com in recent days, Power said he was looking forward to the start of the season. ‘I’ve done a lot of training in the past few months and seem to be going well’, he said. ‘I got a head cold earlier this month and was off the bike for a week, so I will take it as it comes in the Tour Down Under. Hopefully I will be going okay there.’

A total of 96 riders will take part in the sixth edition of the event, including cyclists from eight strong European teams. These include the FDJeux.com and Lotto-Domo teams of Australian Tour de France green jersey winners Baden Cooke and Robbie McEwen, who are counted amongst the favourites. Scanlon’s Ag2r team is back to defend the victory of Mikel Astarloza, while the Quick.Step, Credit Agricole and Domina Vacanze squads will also be in attendance. Power’s Navigators Insurance team have travelled from the US for the race and should also perform well.

The race will begin tomorrow with a 50 kilometre street race in Adelaide, which is likely to end in a sprint finish. Wednesday’s 157 kilometre second stage is the hardest of the Tour Down Under, heading into the Adelaide hills before finishing in Kapunda. The 2.3 ranked event then continues with three road race stages of 150, 141 and 147 kilometres, before ending with a 90 kilometre circuit race in Adelaide.

Stage 2, Wednesday Jan 21, Norwood to Kapunda, 157km
Stage 3, Thursday Jan 22, Goolwa to Victor Harbor, 150km
Stage 4, Friday Jan 23, Unley to Hahndorf, 141km
Stage 5, Saturday Jan 24, Willunga - Willunga, 147km
Stage 6, Sunday Jan 25: Adelaide City Council circuit, 90 km

FOURTH OLYMPIC PLACE CONFIRMED FOR IRISH CYCLISTS: (By Shane Stokes Jan 17) Cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, has confirmed that the country has met the qualification criteria necessary to secure a fourth cycling place for the Olympic Games in Athens in August.

Cycling Ireland has learned that the expected method of calculating the countries which will get a place has been changed, meaning that the country finishes fourteenth out of the eighteen countries who will take up slots in the women’s cross-country event this summer.

The selection process was based on the combined points total of the three best riders in the top 60 of the UCI world rankings on December 31st 2003. Although Ireland had just two riders inside the top sixty, the accumulated total of 993 points gained by Jenny McCauley and Tarja Owens last season see the country comfortably through. In addition, a number of the countries qualified will not take up their full quota of places, enabling nations further down the scale to send a rider.

Irish men’s cross-country champion Robin Seymour had already secured his place for Athens last Autumn when he ended the season well inside the world’s top 50. Like Owens, he took part in the last Olympic games. In addition to the two mountain bike slots, Ireland will also have two riders in the men’s road race.

McCauley and Owens will fight it out for the right to represent Ireland’s Olympic hopes in the first three World Cup races this season, the first of which begins in Madrid on May 23rd. Whichever of the two riders gains the most UCI points in the races will join the 29 other female contestants at the start line in Athens.

Both riders rode courageously last season in their bids to secure the Olympic slot. McCauley suffered from blood poisoning earlier in the year but regained her form, while Owens recovered from a broken collarbone to also post a strong end of season.

Cross-country manager Geoff Seymour was delighted with the news. ‘I am really happy for the girls, they both worked extremely hard last season to gain the place. We had thought that the Olympic spot wouldn’t be confirmed until later in the year and so to find out now is a real bonus.’

‘The input from the Irish Sports Council was absolutely invaluable in making our campaign possible as without their backing, we simply couldn’t have gone to all the races necessary to gather points. We told them that if we received funding that we should be able to qualify two mountain bike riders. I am delighted that it has all worked out well and would like to thank the Sports Council and Shane Keane for their invaluable support.’

CONNACHT TRAINING CAMP: (By Shane Stokes Jan 17) Cycling Ireland youth development officer Padraig Marrey and the Connacht Cycling Federation committee are coming together to run a two day coaching and training camp at the Club Atlantic Hostel in Westport. Taking place on January 31st and February 1st, the camp is open to all categories. Riders from outside the province are also very welcome.

The cost for the weekend will be €50 for seniors, the very reasonable price covering 1 night bed and breakfast and all meals. Riders under 16 will benefit from a grant from the underage commission, leading to a cost of just €30. To attend the camp riders must wear a helmet on spins and have applied for a 2004 Cycling Ireland licence. A letter from club secretaries stating that licence forms have been sent in will suffice. One day licences will also be available.

The camp will also be used to select under 16 riders for the National camp to be held at the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick on the weekend of February 14th and 15th.

More information is available from club secretaries or from Padraig Marrey, by phone at 087-7992857. The closing date for return of entries is Monday the 26th of January.

Saturday

Sunday

Camp Guidelines 11.00-11.15am Padraig Marrey

Cycle spin for all cats 11.00am-2pm Bike leaders Lunch 2.15 –3.15pm Main Hall

Performance Profiling 3.15-4.30 pm Padraig Marrey

Bike Maintance 4.45 –6pm Dara O’Neill

Dinner 6- 7.30 pm Main Hall

Stretching Methods 7.30-9pm Jay Daly

Bed time 11pm for all under 18!!

Breakfast 8.30-9pm Main Hall

Bike spin for all cats 10-2pm Leaders

Lunch 2.15- 3.15pm Main Hall

Training to Compete 3.20-4pm Padraig Marrey

Close and Pack up 4.30pm

COLLINS SET FOR NEW 1000 METRE RECORD: (By Shane Stokes Jan 15) Former Irish international Liam Collins appears in line to improve upon his own long-standing 1000 metre flying-start record after a fine ride at the Russian Winter Track Championships on Wednesday. Collins set the standard in Manchester in 1985 when he recorded a time of 1 minute 8.801. This week, the 35 year old overcame chilly conditions in the Moscow velodrome to go almost a tenth of a second quicker, posting a time of 1 minute 8.708 on his way to finishing tenth of 22 riders in the event.

The new record is subject to ratification but with electronic timing and a UCI commissaire both in place at the Winter Track Championships, the Russian-based Irishman seems set to be credited with the new mark.

Collins is working in Moscow for Shell and competes with the Master Profi club. Next up for him is a sprinter’s meet in February. He was formerly a member of the Newcastle West Wheelers team from 1980 – 1987, on occasions the only member of the club.

The Limerickman yesterday gave his run-down of the record bid to IrishCycling.com:

‘I got an invite to compete at the Russian Winter Track Champs, running from the January 10th to 15th.’, Collins said on Wednesday. ‘The national Squad for the upcoming Track World Cups will be selected from these events. Unfortunately, due to work commitments I've only been able to compete in a few events. I rode in the 200m flying TT for Sprinter's on Sunday evening and recorded 12.001, finishing 17th out of 25. The European U23 Keirin Champ won in 10.9.’

‘I rode the Flying 1KM TT for elite's on Tuesday and recorded 1.08.932….this was close to the Irish Record of 1.08.801. Unfortunately I went out very fast, averaging 59kph for the first lap and then blew on the last lap. I was told afterwards that there would be another 1km Flying Start TT for sprinters at 3pm today. So I got in the office (work) at 7.45am, went to the track at 2pm, went off first, and managed to break the record. I was back in the office before 4pm. I rode a much steadier effort today and it paid off. I've been concentrating on short sprint work since the Russian Master's in December just to see how far I can develop my sprint. We can't get out on the road here from Mid October till early April due to the weather so the Track is very important in helping to maintain fitness. Training is fairly limited at the moment as I've just moved into the position of Head of Accounting for Shell in the CIS and year-end is very busy. It is a bit of a juggling act.’

‘The weather conditions are worth noting out here. It was minus six during the daytime today with plenty of snow. The track temperature was about 14 degrees celcius, which is ten degrees below the stated ideal of 24 degrees celcius for track record attempts. Pretty chilly in a skin suit, loads of guys were riding in leg warmers. The heating isn't switched on at the track unless it's a World Cup event.’

‘The record attempt was under UCI conditions. Electronically timed, track sponges on the track, and riding a standard helmet, not an aero helmet. There was a UCI commissaire in place, Alexander Ilene, who was assistant commissaire at the World Road Race Champs in Portugal three years ago. The commissaire's report and a copy of the print-out from the timing device will be supplied to Cycling Ireland to verify the record.’

‘I will compete at a Sprinter's Meet in early February. It took me 5 years to get in an open track event, the Russian Elite Track Champs last July. I rode the Kilo (10th) and Points Race (Semi Final) and managed to make a reasonable impression so that has opened the doors to a few more events. This week's events are open to all of the former Soviet Republics with Belarus, Kazakhstan & Lithuania competing. Poland also sent a team. Only one of two Master's competing. Most of the riders are U25. Alexei Markov, bronze medallist in the Olympics Points race in Sydney is the star of the show here. He rides for Slava Ekimov's (US Postal) former team in St. Petersburg. It took over 2 hrs to run off all of the heats for the 200m on Sunday, men & women, including Juniors. There were over one hundred riders competing, I would guess.’

THREE IRISH INTERNATIONALS FOR NEW SUPERTEAM: (By Shane Stokes Jan 15) Three of Ireland’s top internationals will join forces this season in the colours of the new TotalCycling.com–Corrib Racing team. Reigning Irish national time trial champion David O’Loughlin, FBD Milk Rás yellow jersey Tommy Evans and Marseilles-based Philip Deignan will be part of a squad which will target top Irish events such as the Shay Elliot memorial, the national road race championships, the FBD Milk Rás and also English premier calendar races. The team will be sponsored by Derry’s TotalCycling.com and McGrath’s Quarry Group of Cong, Co. Mayo, and will use Lightspeed bikes.

O’Loughlin, Evans and Deignan are part of Cycling Ireland’s eight-man provisional Olympic squad and so will also compete with the national team in the build-up to Athens. Deignan is also likely to race with the VC La Pomme team in France.

Four other riders will also ride on the TotalCycling.com-Corrib squad; Mark Quigley, Arron Dean, Brendan Doherty and Brendan Graham.

O’Loughlin had first been working towards setting up his own team but while he was able to secure the support of McGrath’s Quarry Group, other sponsors proved difficult to find. He since decided to amalgamate with the existing Totalcycling.com team, the pool of talent now ensuring that the squad will be one of the strongest in Ireland. The Mayo rider rode with the US based Ofoto Lombardi pro team in 2002 and 2003 but took the decision to be based closer to home for the current season. He will however compete in Belgium and elsewhere during 2004.

‘Our riders will be competing in all the major events in Ireland plus a number of British Premier Calendar races’, O’Loughlin said. ‘I’m looking forward to riding alongside Tommy and Philip in the same team for the first time. We’ve all gained a healthy respect for each others’ abilities over the years.’

The former Irish under 23 champion took 13 wins in 2003, including the Archer Grand Prix in England and a stage of the Tour of Namur in Belgium. He won the national time trial championships and also took the bronze medal in the national road race championship, behind Mark Scanlon and Denis Lynch.

Banbridge rider Tommy Evans also had a fine season in 2003, riding strongly in Malaysia and France before returning home for the 2.5 ranked FBD Milk Rás. The former national champion won the opening stage and held yellow for three days, eventually finishing best of the Irish in eighth place.

Philip Deignan, from Letterkenny, was Ireland’s sole finisher in the European championships on the Olympic course last year. The Marseilles-based Donegal man is seen as a talented climber and is one of Irish cycling’s big hopes for the future.

FINAL TWO PLACES ANNOUNCED FOR LANGKAWI TEAM: (By Shane Stokes Jan 10) Cycling Ireland today announced the final two places on the team which will ride the prestigious Tour of Langkawi next month. Eugene Moriarty and Tim Barry will complete the seven-man squad for the 2.2-ranked pro event, joining David O’Loughlin, Paul Griffin, David McCann, Philip Deignan and national under 23 champion Denis Lynch in the Hibernian Team Ireland setup for the ten-day event.

Olympic team manager Martin O’Loughlin had been trying to secure the participation of Mark Scanlon and Ciarán Power for the Malaysian tour. However, the chance of either taking part was slim as both Scanlon’s Ag2R squad and Power’s Navigators team have commitments elsewhere around the same time. Both riders are due to get their season underway later this month in the Tour Down Under in Australia.

The seven-man Irish selection will nevertheless head to the Tour of Langkawi intent on getting a share of the publicity, prize-money and UCI points on offer. Their task will be made a little easier by the news that the race organisers have invited four officials to the race; Frank Campbell will act as manager, John Keegan as mechanic, while Jerry O’Dwyer and Brendan Whelan will provide the daily massages which will help the riders cope with the demands of the tough early-season event.

The Tour of Langkawi will feature several of the world’s top pro teams and promises to be an exciting, eventful contest. It runs from February 6th – 15th this year.

IMPRESSIVE MEETING SETS OUT STALL FOR 2004: (By Shane Stokes Jan 7) Cycling Ireland started the 2004 off on a good footing with a well-organised and presented pre-season meeting on Sunday at the ALSAA club near Dublin Airport. Olympic selection criteria, the international race programme for 2004 and the mentality necessary for success were just three of the many topics covered by the speakers, who included former Olympic and world champion Chris Boardman and double world rowing champion Sam Lynch.

The session got underway with advice from Lynch about the approach needed for top level success. The 2001 and 2002 lightweight single sculls world champion said that three things were necessary for success; physical talent, a good support structure and also the mental approach adopted by the athlete. Of these, he pinpointed the latter as being the most important.

‘I have seen guys who on paper didn’t have all the talent but through application, they got there’, he stated. ‘They were perhaps told that they didn’t have all that was required but refused to accept that, working hard and going on to big things.’

Lynch said that having the determination and drive to train day-in, day-out was a huge part of success. ‘Winning world championships and qualifying for the Olympics is really secondary to the mundane necessity of training’, he said, pointing out that studies have shown that 10,000 hours of training is necessary to realise your potential, from the moment you take up a sport. ‘Working hard, day in and day out is what is needed to get the most out of yourself.’

After Lynch’s motivating contribution, former top cycling professional Chris Boardman gave his pointers to the riders present. Self-depreciating at times, Boardman spoke of the obsessive tunnel-vision which enabled him to become Olympic champion, Tour de France prologue winner and world hour record holder. ‘There are two types of riders’, he suggested. ‘Those that want to win and those who need to win. The first group want to see how far they can go and are positively motivated. The second group is motivated by the fear of failure. I fell into this group but don’t think it is a particularly healthy drive. In fact, I would almost say it (that attitude) is a form of mental illness.’

‘A lot of champions come from the second group. They are not necessarily well-rounded people but that is where their drive comes from. They need to win and this causes them to push themselves to their limits’.

Highlighting the effect of his obsessive drive, Boardman spoke of an occasion when his wife was pregnant. ‘She went into labour and went into hospital. Nothing was happening so I drove across the country to check out a course for a time trial the next day. It probably wouldn’t have made a huge different to my performance to see the course, but I did it anyway. I am not particularly proud of what I did, looking back, but it gives an insight into the mindset I had at the time.’

Although Boardman clearly sees his previous focus as excessive – ‘thinking back, it is like looking at a different person’, he said, he nevertheless stresses the importance of this area. ‘It is mental traits which make the difference (in achieving success). I don’t really think that I was all that talented as a rider. But I had a huge level – maybe an unhealthy level – of application and that is what helped me achieve what I did.’

Boardman stated that there are three factors of crucial importance. Self belief, motivation that is unaffected by failures and a willingness for the cyclist to dedicate themselves to an almost-unhealthy degree. The correct application of this mindset, he said, was also important. ‘A mindset can be defined as a systematic approach to the search for a solution to a given problem. In cycling terms, that means that you should identify a goal, work out if it is attainable and then figure out how you would move toward that goal.’

Using his Olympic and Tour de France success as an example, he talked about how he built up for those major targets. There was some important advice, however: ‘You should have a maximum of three major goals in a given season. Any more than this means that you will not be able to get yourself up enough, mentally, for each one… It is also important to stay focussed on these big targets. There were times when I was going well and the team asked me to try to do something in a race. I had to say to them that continuing to build form for a major objective was more important. In other words, you shouldn’t let yourself get distracted. It was not always easy saying that to the people who sign the cheques, but that is what I had to do.’

Interestingly, Boardman gave an insight into the amount of pressure he was under in the run up to the Tour de France each season. ‘My career depended on eight minutes each year, really. The first stage of the Tour was crucially important. By and large I delivered on that, but the week before the race was absolutely horrendous in terms of stress.’

‘Whatever big goal you have set yourself, you will have to deal with this sort of pressure. You just have to accept that it is a normal feeling under the circumstances and keep focussed.’

Phil Collins and Martin O’Loughlin of Cycling Ireland’s high performance group were next to speak, unveiling CI’s selection criteria for the Olympic Games. Laying out the criteria at this early stage serves a double purpose; firstly, it ensures a greater degree of transparency than existed in the past, which should dispel suggestions of bias. It also enables the riders to see exactly what kind of performances will help them chase the two places available in the Olympic road race.

UCI world-ranking points attained before June 27th will be the single most important consideration in determining which two riders get to go to the Games, attracting an importance weighting of 50%. Under the related scoring mechanism, the rider with the highest UCI points will get a score of 50, while those below him will get a score proportional to their world-ranking points.

Each rider’s allocation from the remaining fifty points will be determined by a new four man Cycling Ireland Athens Planning Group. Comprising Olympic manager Martin O’Loughlin, Frank Campbell, Phil Collins and Geoff Seymour, the quartet will rate riders in three categories. Exceptional performances in 2004 will have a weighting of 30 percent, while exceptional teamwork is worth ten percent. The final ten percent will be made up of CIAPG’s assessment of each rider’s attributes, with factors such as the ability to handle the heat and the expected pollution in Athens among the important considerations.

At present there are eight riders on the provisional list for Olympic candidates. Ag2r professional Mark Scanlon, Navigators pro Ciaran Power, David McCann, David O'Loughlin, Philip Deignan, Denis Lynch, Tommy Evans and Brian Kenneally are all in the running for a place, although good performances by other riders could see them force their way onto the squad.

Of the eight, Power and Scanlon will be riding in a number of world-ranked events with their teams. The other riders will however have opportunities to gain UCI points through competition with the Hibernian Team Ireland squad; a selection of international races feature on the draft programme which was also released on Sunday.

The 2.2 Tour of Langkawi from February 6th - 15th will be the first of these events. Five of the seven-man team were named at the meeting, with Philip Deignan, Paul Griffin, David McCann, Denis Lynch and David O'Loughlin confirmed for the prestigious Malaysian tour. The two remaining places will be filled shortly.

The next two races on the programme will be the Omloop van-Het Wassland and the Zesbergenpirjs Haveibere, both 1.5 events, on March 14th and 27th.

Cycling Ireland also released details of their provisional programme for women in 2004 (details of both programmes to follow later this week) and the selection criteria for the Manchester Track World Cup, in April. Limited funding from the Sports Council means that this is likely to be the sole World Cup race disputed by Irish riders this year and in order to ensure that cyclists of a sufficiently high standard head over to the event, set standards must be met. Riders will be required to meet the qualification time prior to March 14th 2004. As with the Olympic selection criteria for the road, this will make for a more objective selection process. The flipside to this is that because of the budget constraints, Cycling Ireland say that track riders will have to meet set performance benchmarks in the future before taking part on national teams.

Together with a resolution adopted at the manager’s meeting to ‘significantly increase the profile of Team Ireland in 2004’, through greater communication with the media, Sunday’s pre-season gathering was an impressive start to the year. The intent seems to be there for Cycling Ireland to do things in a bigger, better way than before; if things continue in this same vein, 2004 looks set to be a very important and productive year for the organisation. See More Pictures of the CI Meeting Here....

CYCLING IRELAND ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR TOUR OF LANGKAWI: (By Shane Stokes Jan 4) Five of the seven-man team which will compete in the

Five of the seven-man team which will compete in the Tour of Langkawi next month were named by Cycling Ireland at its pre-season meeting at the ALSAA centre near Dublin Airport on Sunday. Philip Deignan, Paul Griffin, David McCann, Denis Lynch and David O'Loughlin have been confirmed for the 2.2 Malaysian race, with the two remaining places to be filled before the squad departs.

The invitation to the race is a big boost for Cycling Ireland, given the event’s prestige and position as the worlds fourth-richest stage race. Participation will also enable the riders concerned to build some good form at this early stage of the season and affords them the chance to gain some valuable world-ranking points.

‘I hope that this breakthrough will pay dividends for the careers of our riders given the number of UCI points at stake in such a highly-ranked event’ said Cycling Ireland CEO Stuart Hallam, who played a crucial part in securing the invitation. ‘I realise that with time ticking by, it may be tough on the boys to get their form right, but I believe that we have class riders that will handle the situation.’

The Tour of Langkawi runs this year from February 6th – 15th. Paradoxically, the race will be based entirely on the Malaysian mainland this year, rather than visiting the island of Langkawi.

Pat McQuaid has played an important part in organising the race for several years and several other Irish people have worked on it in various roles. The ten-day event is one of the highlights of the early season calendar.

DIGNAM CONFIRMS CONTINUATION OF SPONSORSHIP: (By Shane Stokes Jan 2) Race organiser Dermot Dignam has confirmed that the National Dairy Council and FBD Insurances will once again sponsor the FBD Milk Rás in 2004. The eight-day international will take place from 23rd to 30th May next year, with a tough, mountainous route expected to be announced in the near future. Teams from South Africa, Germany, France, Canada, Denmark, Moldavia, Netherlands and Nigeria have already indicated an interest in taking part.

The sponsorship of the race is one of the longest in Irish sport, with the NDC involved for 22 years and FBD Insurances for 21. Their backing enabled the race to become a world-ranking event in 2001, increasing the quality and number of foreign entries.

SOLID BLOCK OF EARLY SEASON RACING FOR POWER: (By Shane Stokes Jan 2) A good sequence of early season races have been pencilled in for Irish professional Ciarán Power, with over 30 days of racing between January 20th and April 14th. The Navigators rider reports that he is in very good condition and is looking forward to the season; with the good programme he should have ample opportunity to record some good results in Australia and Europe this Spring.

Power’s campaign will get underway on the 20th of this month with the six-day Tour Down Under in Australia. He will return to Europe for a race in Italy on February 8th, the race GP Costa degli Etruschi, and then a ride in the Ligere Ponente (Italy, Feb 12 – 15) or possibly the Tour of the Mediterranean in France, from February 11 – 15. A series of one day races in Italy, France, Switzerland and Belgium complete the month, with a choice of starts in the Trofeo Laigueglia, Tour du Haut Var, Classic Haribo, GP Chiasso/Omloop Het Volk, Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne/GP di Lugano on the cards.

March brings 13 days of racing, with the Memorial Samyn Fayt le Franc and Record-Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen both in Belgium, the GP Eric Breukink in the Netherlands, and the Nokere Koerse and Settimana Ciclista Internazionale in Belgium and Italy respectively.

The first half of April is equally busy, with the Route Adélie and GP de la Ville de Rennes (France), Ghent Wevelgem and the GP Pino Cerami (Belgium), the Dutch Ronde Van Drenthe, the Rund um Koln in Germany and the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen in Belgium closing out Navigators spring campaign in Europe. Power and the rest of the team will then head back to the US to begin the squad’s domestic campaign there.

Cycling Round Up

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