Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: June 2003
GILL TAKES SIXTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY: (By Shane Stokes Jun 29) Halfway around the second lap of yesterday’s women’s road race championships in Sligo, it seemed as if defending champion Geraldine Gill was finding things a bit more difficult than previous years. Twelve months ago she had thrown caution to the wind, the metaphorical gauntlet to the floor and roared off over the horizon early on in the race. But at the top of the tough Tully Hill on the second of the five laps yesterday she was slightly adrift of Collette Swift (Old Portlians) and Beth McCluskey (IMBRC), who looked to be racing clear of Gill and the other contenders at that early stage. Read Shane Stokes full detailed race report here...
The race also saw solid rides by the Irish cross country team in the third round of their contest. Olympic aspirants Robin Seymour, Tarja Owens and Jenny McCauley all scored points and so inched closer towards the qualification standard, which will be determined by world ranking at the end of the year. Seymour was 47th, 14 minutes and 51 seconds behind French winner Julien Absalon. Tarja Owens recovered from a puncture to place 52nd in the women’s race, won by Gunn-Rita Dahle, while Jenny McCauley was 56th. MTB World Cup, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada: Downhill: 1, Steve Peat (Team Orange) 1 minute 41.17 secs; 2, G. Minnaar (South Africa) 1 min 41.23 secs; 3, C. Gracia (Siemens Mobile Cannondale) 1 min 41.77 secs; 4, M. Hannah (Australia) 1 min 41.87 secs; 5, N. Rennie (Australia) 1 min 42.36 secs Irish: 26, W. Corry, 1 min 46.78 secs; 39, J. Lawlor, 1 min 49.04 secs; 41, J. Popham, 1 min 49.51 secs; 49, A. Yoong, 1 min 50.53 secs; 70, A. Smith, 1 min 58.85 secs; 73, D. McMullen 2 mins 18.55 secs World Cup standings after three rounds: 1 Cedric Gracia (Siemens Mobile Cannondale) 535 points; 2, Rennie, 521; 3, Minnaar, 430. Irish: 50, Corry, 34; 73, G. O’Brien, 16; 78, Lawlor, 12; 81, Popham, 10; 98, Yoong, 2 Four-cross: 1, Eric Carter (Mongoose-Hyundai); 2, Gracia; 3, W. Bootes (Trek-Volkswagen). Other: 43, Yoong World Cup Standings after three rounds: 1, Carter, 140 pts; 2, M. Prokop (Czech Republic) 86; 3, Gracia, 70. Other: 32, Yoong, 5 Cross-country: 1, Julien Absalon (France) 1 hour 51 mins 20 secs; 2, C. Sauser (Switzerland) at 47 secs; 3, R. Green (Canada) at 57 secs; 4, J.A. Hermida, same time; 5, L. Fumic (Germany) at 1 min 30 secs Irish: 47, R. Seymour, at 14 mins 51 secs; DNF: R. McCauley Women: 1, Gunn-Rita Dahle (Merida International) 1 hour 51 min 43 secs; 2, S. Spitz (Merida International) at 1 min 48 secs; 3, B. Blatter (Specialised Mountain Bike) at 2 mins 3 secs; 4, I. Kalentieva (Merida International) at 2 mins 29 secs; 5, M.H Premont (Canada) at 3 mins 6 secs Irish: 52, T. Owens, at 20 mins 16 secs; 56, J. McCauley, at 22 mins 17 secs World cup standings after 3 rounds: 1, Sauser, 600 points; 2, Absalon, 590; 3, Fumic, 480 Irish: 74, Seymour, 32
The Special Olympics has its own version of Armstrong, namely Kylee Ogden from Craig in Colorado. The Team USA rider came into the sport after years of doing downhill snowboarding, cross-country skiing and swimming. She began qualified for the games last year but also had to contend with cancer, being diagnosed with the disease about a year ago. 'It was a tough time,' said the friendly, articulate seventeen year old after the medal presentation yesterday. 'I had surgery and had to take a load of pills for a few months. I couldn't train on the bike.. I could only lift some weights with my legs as I couldn't use my arms.'
'For me the Special Olympics has done so much. In the past I was not able to talk to people. I was very shy, very depressed but it has brought me out a lot. My mother used to have a hard time getting me to go to school...she can't believe the difference now.' 'What helped me was being around people who understood me and who were very positive. That was really important.' Kylee is a Global Messenger for the Special Olympics. She is planning on going on to college once she finishes high school. 'I am going to do a course in the local college - it combines three subjects. I learn how to be a masseuse, a cosmetologist and do photography too.' Kylee is now finished her cycling events and has five days before returning home. 'I am going to talk my coach into letting me go to watch the basketball. I have had a really great time here at the Games! Ireland is really nice and I have enjoyed it a lot.'
OVER 250 PICTURES OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS: (Jun 27-) Pictures of the Special Olympics Cycling events in the Phoenix Park on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th are now posted on this site. Click here to see pictures... COLLECTION PAYS OFF BIKE: Through fund-raising back home, Guatemalan competitor Luis Canel had paid off half the costs of his bicycle before travelling to the Special Olympics. After his return, he was facing the prospect of some tough work settling the remainder; delivering photographs for an agency and also scavenging in a local market for discarded food that he could sell. Happily that will now not be necessary, after a collection amongst volunteers at the Phoenix Park cycling venue raised enough money to pay off the remaining sum. Luis was presented with it today and was understandably delighted with the gesture. IRISH COACH STEERS IOM RIDER TO SUCCESS: Ireland may have no cyclists this time in the games, but there is an Irish connection. Forty-two year old Guy Adamson is the sole competitor from the Isle of Man, and is coached by former Irish national sprint champion Adrian Mooney.
Guy's training on the tough roads of the Isle of man has reaped two medals thus far, gold yesterday in the 10 kilometre time trial and silver on Wednesday in the fifteen kilometre road race. He had previously taken medals in events around the world. 'I am very happy,' he said. 'The races have been hard, there is a bit of wind on the circuit.' Guy will take part in the 25 kilometre road race today, his final event, and his Irish coach will be cheering him on all the way. Full results are available at http://www.2003specialolympics.com/en/default.asp?page=gms_eve_cyc The final cycling event in the 2003 Summer Games will take place at 10 am tomorrow morning (Saturday) in the Phoenix Park. All supporters are welcome. SMILES ALL ROUND: (By Shane Stokes Jun 25) The sun toasted the riders again on Wednesday in the Phoenix Park, and the unexpectedly good weather had the Uruguayan competitors in fine spirits. 'Ireland is great, this weather is lovely and we are really enjoying it here,' said Alejandro Bembacar, a fit-looking, tattooed cyclist who was competing the division seven five-kilometre time trial. Alejandro and his team-mate Diego Gross had extra reason to be smiling, both having just received silver medals in their categories and finishing their Olympics off on a good note. 'We have had a great time here....the people have been really friendly and the opening ceremony the other day was really, really moving', he enthused. Alejandro has been cycling for 'more than five years' and prepared for the Olympics with the help of his coach. He trained twice a day three times a week, doing 32 kilometres on the road in the morning and then afternoon sessions on the track, and was given a loan of a bike by the Rio Negro team back home. It has paid off very well for the 19 year old, who has taken a total of two gold medals and a silver this week. All were displayed proudly, hanging around his neck and glinting in the sunlight. Alexjandro and Diego have finished their events, and are looking forward to lending their support to their countrymen for the rest of the week. 'We are finished now but we are going to cheer on the rest of our team members,' they said. 'We are going to go to soccer and also to the swimming events.'
‘Mark is very motivated for the championships, but he is also quite tired at the moment,’ said his coach Padraig Marrey. ‘How he will do on the day depends on how well he can recover. He is certainly determined to do a good ride in his home town, and should have a huge amount of support there.’ Last year’s silver medallist Ciarán Power has also flown back to Ireland and is hoping to go one place better this time round. He has pinpointed a win in the national championships as one of his major goals for the season and, confidence boosted by two stage wins in the FBD Milk Rás and similar success in the Nature Valley Grand Prix on the competitive US circuit, he is likely to be Scanlon’s biggest obstacle. Other professionals who will be determined to show their strength are David O’Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports) and the 2000/2001 champion David McCann, who is now racing for Team Endurasport. However, it is at this stage believed that Spanish-based Dermot Nally will not make it to Sligo for the event. The race organisers have not yet heard from the Paternina-Costa Almeria pro, although he could possibly turn up and enter on the day itself. French-based riders Tommy Evans and Denis Lynch are both riding for the Totalcycling.com team for the championships, rather than their usual VC La Pomme team. However the Marseilles squad will be well represented by Philip Deignan and Paidi O’Brien, who like Evans and Lynch should be prominent on the day. The promoting Eire Og team have chosen a tough course for the race, and one which should guarantee a deserving champion. Slightly under nine miles in length, the riders will cover twelve laps of the circuit, with two miles of this running through Sligo town itself and so ensuring a good atmosphere. Scanlon’s achievements have earned considerable attention in Sligo since his 1998 junior world championship win and so a good turnout of spectators is anticipated. Outside the town, there are two hills for the riders to deal with each time around. The first of these is a two-mile drag on the Manorhamilton road, while the riders will also face a sharp, steep 400 metre hill which ends just two and a half miles from the start/finish line and would serve as the ideal springboard for a late attack. ‘We are hoping for a good turnout of spectators,’ confirmed the race director Daire Mooney. ‘This will be the first real opportunity in a long time for people in the area to see Mark race, and so there should be a lot of interest.’ Tour of Switzerland (2.HC): Stage 4, Visp – Losone: 1, Sandy Casar (FDJeux.com) 168 kilometres in 4 hours 5 mins 1 sec (40.772 km/h); 2, K. Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo); 3, S. O'Grady (Crédit Agricole); 4, R. Mc Ewen (Lotto-Domo); 5, J. Dean (Team CSC). Other: 56, M. Scanlon (Ag2r Prévoyance) Stage 5, Ascona - La Punt: 1, Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) 178 kilometres in 5 hours 9 mins 34 secs (34.461 km/h); 2, A. Vinokourov (Team Telekom) at 39 secs; 3, A. Moos (Phonak Hearing Systems) at 47 secs; 4, G. Guerini (Team Telekom) same time; 5, T. Valjavec (Fassa Bortolo) at 49 secs; 6, S. Montgomery (Fassa Bortolo) same time. Other: 95, Scanlon, at 22 mins 38 secs Stage 6, Silvaplana – Silvaplana: 1, Oscar Pereiro (Phonak Hearing Systems) 135 kilometres in 3 hours 39 mins 40 secs (36.792 km/h); 2, J. Ullrich (Team Bianchi) at 1 min 14 secs; 3, K. Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) at 1 min 17 secs; 4, Moos; 5, Vinokourov; 6, O. Sosenka (CCC-Polsat) both same time. Other: 66, Scanlon, at 18 mins 43 secs Stage 7, Savognin-Oberstaufen: 1, Sergei Yakovlev (Team Telekom) 231 kilometres in 5 hours 53 mins 38 secs (39.244 km/h); 2, M. Zberg (Gerolsteiner) at 1 min 2 secs; 3, M. Derganc (Domina Vacanze-Elitron); 4, Daniel Schnider (Phonak Hearing Systems) both same time; 5, E. Leblacher (Crédit Agricole) at 1 min 23 secs; 6, B. Julich (Team Telekom) at 2 mins 16 secs. Other: 70, Scanlon, at 5 mins 31 secs Stage 8, Gossau – Gossau TT: 1, Bradley Mc Gee (FDJeux.com) 33 kilometres in 42 mins 20.77 secs; 2, U. Peschel (Gerolsteiner) at 23.35 secs; 3, Ullrich, at 50.26 secs; 4, Pereiro, at 1 min 6.78 secs; 5, Vinokourov, at 1 min 12.62 secs. Other: 38, Scanlon, at 3 mins 32.55 secs (95 finishers) Stage 9, Stäfa – Aarau: 1, Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) 152 kilometres in 3 hours 25 mins 41 secs (44.281 km/h); 2, Moos; 3, J. Dean (Team CSC); 4, S. Teutenberg (Team Bianchi); 5, Vinokourov; 6, M. Zberg (Gerolsteiner) all same time. Other: 33, Scanlon, at 2 secs Final general classification: 1, Alexandre Vinokourov, 36 hours 38.58 secs; 2, Guerini, at 1 min 14 secs; 3, Pereiro, at 1 min 28 secs; 4, Kirchen, at 1 min 46 secs; 5, T. Valjavec (Fassa Bortolo) at 1 min 55 secs; 6, Moos, at 2 mins 10 secs. Other: 7, Ullrich, at 2 mins 27 secs; 58, Scanlon, at 59 mins 10 secs (91 finishers) Postfinance sprints classification: 1, Daniel Schnider (Phonak Hearing Systems) 24 pts; 2, P. Wuyts (Palmans-Collstrop) 20; 3, J. Van Goolen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) 18. Other, 7: Scanlon, 6 pts. Irish MTB NPS round 3: The Apollo Cycling Team will promote round 3 of the Irish Mountain Bike Series at Big Wood, between Newry and Warrenpoint, this Sunday. The race will follow a similar course to last year, although there will be slightly more single track. The course is situated alongside the main Newry - Warrenpoint dual carriageway. For more information contact Myles at 048 38348627. AHERN WINS STEPHEN ROCHE CLASSIC: (By Shane Stokes Jun 25) Former Junior Tour of Ireland winner Brian Ahern highlighted his good form in advance of this Sunday's national road race championships, winning the Stephen Roche Classic in Meadowmount, Dundrum, tonight.
Ahern is just back from three weeks competing on the Belgian circuit with Team Ireland and showed this honed speed in the race, breaking clear on several occasions and securing the prize as the most aggressive rider. More importantly, he responded to a last lap attack by Scott McDonald, going with the Orwell rider and out-sprinting him at the finish. The Dundrum Festival event began with the Senior 3's, juniors and veterans getting a considerable handicap, with the senior 2 riders also benefiting from a head start. The latter were soon reeled in, however, although the other group stayed up front for many laps. First across the gap was the motivated Cycleways Lee Strand rider Aidan Crowley, who had expressed his determination to win prior to the start. However his surge was not enough to reel in the US veteran Paul Curley, who had jumped clear before his group was reeled in. Curley held to take his second prime of the race but was later involved in a crash, fortunately without any serious injury. Local rider Brian Lennon (St. Tiernan's) was also very prominent, attempting to go clear on several occasions. But Ahern was the only one with enough speed to really get away from the bunch, jumping clear with 17 laps to go and opening a lead of ten seconds. He held this for three laps, picking up a prime, but was eventually hauled back by the Cycleways-led main field. The Naas Fig Roll rider tried again with 8 laps remaining, only to be hauled back. He still had something left in the tank, though, being the only one to respond to a ferocious last-lap attack by Scott McDonald of the promoting Orwell Wheelers. McDonald, the winner of last Sunday's Paddy Flanagan Criterium in Kildare had made it clear beforehand that he was gunning to repeat his 1991 win in the race, but had no answer to Ahern, who coolly latched onto his wheel and then jumped around him in the final 200 metres. Third place went to Cycleways' sprinter Aidan Crowley, who narrowly outgalloped Usher IRC's Colm Bracken, Simon Whelan (North Kildare CC) and the rest of the bunch.
Aidan Crowley was disappointed with third, but recognised that he would have little chance had he made a move on the final lap. 'I knew they (McDonald and Ahern) were going to try something, and saw them going. But Colm Bracken and the others were right on my wheel, and I knew if I jumped I would be caught out. I wasn't far off it tonight, but didn't get the win I was hoping for.' Instead it was Ahern who went home with the bulk of the prizemoney, taking the overall win, two primes and the most aggressive rider award. Next up is Sunday's national road race championships; he'll be hoping to be one of the home riders able to mix it with the foreign-based professionals such as Mark Scanlon and Ciaran Power. See Close Up Pictures Here... Stephen Roche Classic, Dundrum: 1, Brian Ahern (Naas Fig Rolls); 2, S. McDonald (Orwell Wheelers) same time; 3, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 1 sec; 4, C. Bracken (Usher IRC); 5, S. Whelan (North Kildare CC); 6, W. Byrne (North Kildare CC) all same time Most aggressive rider: Ahern Kieran Hammond award for best Junior: Sean Reynolds (Staggs Lucan) Senior 2: Shane Connaughton (Cycleways Lee Strand); Senior 3: Paddy Kelly (Bray); Veteran: Oliver McQuaid (Emerald) Primes: Kelly; Anto Moran (Ravens); Paul Curley (USA); Curley; Ahern; Simon Coughlan (Dunamond Dynamos); Bracken; Ahern; Mark Colbert (Tilechoice); Robert Whelan (Navan Avonmore) CHARITY CYCLE: A non-competitive charity cycle rally will also take place in the area on Sunday 6th July. Starting at 10.30 am at Simpson’s Hospital on the Ballinteer road, the spin will take riders from Dundrum to Enniskerry and back. Proceeds will go to the hospital. Entries cost ten euro, with under fourteens paying five. Numerous prizes are on offer in the draw to take place after the rally, and refreshments will be available at the half-way point. Contact Joe Daly at 01-2981485 for information and sponsorship cards. MCDONALD ON TOP IN KILDARE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 22) Sidelined in recent weeks due to tendonitis of the wrist, Scott McDonald returned to racing yesterday with a fine win in the Paddy Flanagan criterium in Kildare town. The Orwell Wheelers’ rider was in a determined mood, mixing it at the head of the bunch from the drop of the flag and then responding to an attack by French-based Paídi O’Brien on the fifth lap to go clear.
Riding strongly together, McDonald and VC La Pomme rider O’Brien quickly opened up a sizeable lead over the disorganised main field, which had riders going off the front and back in equal measure. Despite the efforts of those in the bunch, the leading duo pulled steadily away with the gap jumping from ten to twenty to forty seconds as the laps clicked by. Past the halfway point, it was becoming increasing clear that they would not be caught, and on several laps a smiling McDonald showed his confidence when he started making gestures to the finish-line crowd to encourage them to increase their claps and cheers. As the entertainment continued at the head of the field, three riders clipped off the front of the bunch in an ultimately ineffective attempt to get back on terms. Aidan Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand), Dave Smith (Naas Fig Rolls) and Ravens’ Eugene Murtagh pulled hard together, but simply couldn’t make inroads into the cruising front duo who were capable of upping the pace whenever their lead started to waver. Crowely’s team-mate Phil Finegan succeeded in bridging to the three chasers with just a few laps remaining, and did his utmost to help keep them clear of the bunch. O’Brien and McDonald remained together right to the end, with the former jumping out of the last corner in an attempt to get a winning lead. McDonald was straight on his wheel, however, and timed his move perfectly to speed by the first-year senior and take his second victory of the year. Twenty seconds later Crowley, Smith, Finegan and Murtagh sprinted home, in that order, with Micheal Fitzgerald (Navan Avonmore) and North Kildare CC’s Simon Whelan heading the bunch and so completing the top eight. Mark Nestor (Shannonside) was first junior and received the Jack Carney cup. ‘This is my second win this year,’ said McDonald. ‘I won the Harry Reynolds Memorial in Balbriggan a couple of months back, and before that it was eight years since I won a race. It is a great feeling – I am delighted. I came out of the Rás feeling strong, and trained a lot, but I couldn’t race until now due to tendonitis in my wrist. I felt good all day out there, and with the long lineout it seemed obvious that if we put the pressure on, we would be able to do some damage.’ ‘Paídi went for the first prime and I stuck with him, and after that we got a gap. We worked hard together to establish a good lead, and then were able to back off a little. Whenever the gap came down we then pushed it again, making sure that no-one was able to get up. Once it was over 20 seconds we were pretty sure we could stay away, and that is how it worked out.’ ‘At the finish, Paídi jumped me going into the corner but I was able to get his wheel and then was pretty confident. I just waited until the right moment and went by him to get the win’.
Paídi O’Brien will also be hoping for a good ride in Sligo next Sunday, and did not seem too down-hearted about losing today. ‘Scott was very strong in the race, and was very quick at the end,’ he said. ‘I was pretty confident we would be able to stay away once we got a good gap, and that is the way it worked out. He was just a bit too quick for me in the sprint. Now I am thinking of doing the Roche crit on Wednesday and hoping for a good ride next weekend, in the nationals.’ Third placed Aidan Crowley was enthusiastic about the course in Kildare. 'It was a really great circuit,' he said. 'Very fast, there was always a good lineout and it was tough. It would make a great course for the national criterium championship.' Like McDonald and O'Brien, Crowley is planning on taking part in the Stephen Roche Classic on Wednesday. 'I will be riding to win there. I have been up in the placings over the last few years and think that it suits me very well. It was hard last year because of the handicapping of the race, but hopefully it will go well for me this time.’ Paddy Flanagan Criterium, Kildare: 1, Scott McDonald (Orwell Wheelers) 45 minutes 1 second; 2, P. O’Brien (VC La Pomme) same time; 3, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 20 secs; 4, D. Smith (Naas Fig Rolls CC) at 21 secs; 5, P. Finegan (Cycleways Lee Strand); 6, E. Murtagh (Ravens CC) both same time; 7, M. Fitzgerald (Navan Avonmore) at 23 secs; 8, S. Whelan (North Kildare CC) same time First junior: Mark Nestor (Shannonside). Senior 2: John Heraty (Staggs Lucan). Primes: O’Brien (2), McDonald. Bunch prime: Fitzgerald
The race was marked by an early breakaway by St. Tiernan’s duo Brian Lennon and Dylan Rafter, who went clear in a small group almost from the drop of the flag. Finding that the other riders in the break were not contributing, Lennon took them out the back one by one and then set about building a good lead with Rafter, opening a gap of over one minute. The duo worked well together until the first KOM prime eighteen miles into the race, at Mount Hamilton, where Lennon drew clear and took maximum points at the top. Behind, the bunch had been led at full pace by Evans’ Totalcycling.com/Lindsay Ford team for several miles, and their furious chase paved the way for the in-form Belfast man and a small group of other riders to jump across the gap going over the top of the climb. Once passed, Rafter drifted backwards but Lennon remained up front, pressing on with Evans, Matthew Ward (Phoenix CC) and Harps CC’s Paul Bloomer and establishing a maximum lead of one minute thirty seconds. Ward lost contact at Gortin, fifteen miles from the finish, and Bloomer suffered a similar fate when Evans attacked with six miles remaining. That paved the way for a two up sprint with Lennon, which went to the new Ulster road race champion and brought him his sixth win in recent weeks. Lennon had the consolation of the King of the Mountains prize. Bloomer held on for third place, while Stamullen M. Donnelly rider Craig Sweetman and Rafter jumped clear of the bunch to take fourth and fifth, one minute and thirty seconds off the winning time of Evans. Tour of the Sperrins, Cookstown: 1, Tommy Evans (TotalCycling.com/Lindsay Ford) 110 kilometres in 2 hours 26 mins 26 seconds; 2, B. Lennon (St. Tiernan’s CC) same time; 3, P. Bloomer (Harps CC) at 40 secs; 4, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly) at 1 min 30 secs; 5, D. Rafter (St. Tiernans); 6, L. Kirk (Ards CC); 7, M. Ward (Phoenix CC); 8, S. Mulvenny (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 9, P. Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emycale CC); 10, F. Duncan (Northern CC Dave Kane Cycles) all same time. King of the mountains: Lennon. Unplaced senior 2: P. Marshall (Toyota North Down CC); unplaced senior 3rd: K. Dolan (Cuchullain CC); unplaced veteran: B. Marshall (Toyota North Down CC). Under 16: 1, Mark McGirr (Lakeland CC); 2, B. Henning (Newry Haldane Fisher CC); 3, G. McAdam (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale CC). Under 14: 1, Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann); 2, J. Kane (McQuaid TyresEmyvale CC); 3, B. Hughes (McQuaid TyresEmyvale CC). Jack Drum Memorial, Currow: 1, Brian Kenneally (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 2, A. Hedderman (Cycleways Lee Strand); 3, V. Gleeson (West Clare CC); T. Hardwick (Killorglin Credit Union) First Senior 3: John Gough (St. Finbarr’s). Ulster Senior Road Race Championship, Hamiltownsbawn: 1, Tommy Evans (TotalCycling.com/ Lindsay Ford) 100 kilometres in 2 hours 31 mins 15 secs; 2, D. Easton (TCLF) at 1 min 18 secs; 3, R. Blayney (Ards CC) at 1 min 40 secs; 4, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls) same time; 5, M. Kiernan (TotalCycling.com/Lindsay Ford) at 2 mins 10 secs; 6, G. Crory (TotalCycling.com/Lindsday Ford); 7, S. Turner (Bann Valley CC); 8, F. Duncan (Northern CC Dave Kane Cycles) all same time Under 16: 1, Michael Murray (Clann Eireann); 2, B. Henning (Newry Haldane Fisher); 3, M. McGirr (Lakeland CC). Under 14: 1, James Kane (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale CC); 2, R. Thompson (Ards CC); 3, T. Martin (Clann Eireann). Under 12: 1, Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 2, C. Blayney (XMTB); 3, P. Kane (McQuaid Fireplaces, Emyvale CC). IRISH TRACK TEAM ANNOUNCED: (By Shane Stokes Jun 22) The Irish track team for next fortnight’s B world championships in Aigle, Switzerland, was yesterday announced at a squad training session at the Manchester velodrome in England. The team will be comprised of nine riders and hopes are that some of these will raced to success in the B worlds, and thus secure Olympic qualification in the events in question. Five men will take part in the various track disciplines. Paddy Moriarty and the former national time trial champion Paul Healion will both ride the 4000 metre pursuit, world master’s silver medallist Paul Doyle will target the points race and Ray Clarke is aiming for a strong showing in the kilometre time trial. Keith Bannan is hoping for success in the sprint event. Of the women, Australian-based Sarah White will ride the points race and Gillian McDarby will tackle the 500 metre time trial. Both Louise Moriarty and Rebecca O’Connell are concentrating on the 3000 metre individual pursuit. All nine riders will also take part in other events, but their main priority will be with the disciplines listed above. The squad is managed by 1996 Olympian Phil Collins. It is being coached by Terry McManus and, notably, by the British rider Chris Boardman, who during a successful career won three prologues in the Tour de France, held the yellow jersey and also rode to success in the world hour record, the world championship time trial and the 1992 Olympic pursuit. ‘I am confident that the squad can do big things in the B world championships’, said Boardman yesterday. ‘A couple of the riders have a bit of previous track experience, but by and large the team has been built from scratch over the past 20 weeks. Despite that, they have come on in a very big way in that time and have the potential to do well.’ The squad will continue training in Manchester until Thursday, after which they will return to Ireland and taper off in their training before heading off to Switzerland and possible Olympic qualification in early July. * Full feature and interviews from the Manchester session will be printed before the start of the B world championships
The Sligoman chased hard and narrowed the gap to seventeen seconds but was unable to make the final junction. He was recaptured by the bunch inside the final 15 kilometres. Van Goolen held on a while longer to be finally reeled in with 8 kilometres to go, but his decision to go it alone without Scanlon’s assistance did him little favours. Had they stuck together they had a far better chance of making it to the finish. The stage was won in a bunch sprint by Australian rider Robbie McEwen. Telekom rider Alexandre Vinokourov finished nineteenth on the stage and remains in the overall lead. Scanlon finished in the main field and is 61st overall, 1 minute and 23 seconds back. He is also second in the mountains classification and fourth in the Postfinance intermediate sprints classification. The Tour of Switzerland continues tomorrow with the first big mountain stage, a 205 kilometre leg which finishes at the top of the 1800 metre Saas Fee climb. Tour of Switzerland stage 1, Egerkingen - Le Locle: 1, Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Telekom) 163 kilometres in 4 hours 13 mins 43 secs; 2, S. Ivanov (Fassa Bortolo); 3, M. Angel Perdiguero (Domina Vacanze-Elitron) at 2 secs; 4, D. Frigo (Fassa Bortolo); 5, S. Commesso (Team Saeco) all same time. Other: 58, M. Scanlon (Ag2r) at 42 secs Stage 2, Murten – Nyon: 1, Robbie Mc Ewen (Lotto-Domo)175 kilometres in 4 hours 3 mins 10 secs; 2, J. Dean (Team CSC); 3, S. O’Grady (Crédit Agricole); 4, R. Forster (Gerolsteiner); 5, B. Cooke (FDJeux.com); 6, R. Hammond (Palmans-Collstrop) all same time. Other: 93, Scanlon, same time Mountains: La Cézille - Category 4, 112.9 km: 1, Jurgen Van Goolen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) 3 points; 2, Scanlon, 2 Genolier - Cat. 4, 149.2 km: 1, Van Goolen, 3 pts; 2, Scanlon, 2 Postfinance sprints: Crans-près-Céligny, 135.7 km: 1, Scanlon, 6 points Stage 3 - June 19: Nyon - Saas Fee, 205 km: 1, Francesco Casagrande (Lampre) 205 kilometres in 5 hours 10 mins 38 secs (39.538 km/h); 2 K. Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) at 13 secs; 3, A. Vinokourov (Team Telekom) at 18 secs; 4, S. Montgomery (Fassa Bortolo); 5, T. Valjavec (Fassa Bortolo) both same time Other: 100, M. Scanlon (Ag2r) at 14 mins 7 secs General classification: 1, Alexandre Vinokourov (Team Telekom) 13 hours 36 mins 29 secs; 2, F. Casagrande (Lampre) at 6 secs; 3, B. McGee (FDJeux.com) at 16 secs; 4, K. Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) at 26 secs; 5, A. Zulle (Phonak Hearing Systems) at 32 secs Other: 75, Scanlon, at 15 mins 18 secs TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR B WORLD CHAMPS ROAD RACE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 17) The team for next month’s B world championship road race in Aigle, Switzerland was today announced by Cycling Ireland. Lining out in the crucial Olympic qualifier on July 6th will be six Irish riders; US-based professional David O’Loughlin, Irish time trial champion David McCann, FBD Milk Rás stage winner and yellow jersey holder Tommy Evans, plus Eugene Moriarty, Denis Easton and Brian Kenneally, who have all been in good form this year. The team manager is Irish international Martin O’Loughlin, while John Keegan will act as mechanic and Dolores Usher and Heather Purcell will both attend as massage therapists. Padraig Marrey will provide technical support. Top five placings by Ciarán Power and Eugene Moriarty in the 1999 B world championships in Uruguay qualified two riders for the Olympic road race in Sydney. Power and McCann represented Ireland on that occasion. The team for the women’s road race was announced last week, and they too will travel shortly to Switzerland. The team is comprised of Collette Swift, Marie Reilly, Debbie Booth, Beth McCluskey, Karen Bothwell and Kate Rudd, with Valerie Considine acting as team manager. Deirdre Murphy finished fourth in the women’s B world championship road race in 1999 and one year later represented Ireland in Sydney. The B world championships are for nations outside the world's top 30. PADDY FLANAGAN CRITERIUM: (Information) One of the final indications as to those in form for the Irish national road race championships will be held in Kildare town this Sunday, June 22nd. Three time FBD Milk Rás winner Paddy Flanagan will be remembered in the fifty-minute criterium, which is being run in conjunction with the town’s Derby Festival celebrations and is expected to take place in front of huge crowds. ‘We are hoping it will be a great race,’ says John Malone, of the promoting Newbridge Cutlery club. ‘We are going to run it immediately after the opening parade of the Derby Festival, which brings a huge number of people into the town. The plan is to capture the audience and get some real excitement for the race.’ The high-speed contest will take place over a flat circuit of eight-tenths of a mile. According to Malone, the bends on it are fast and sweeping, with the exception of one sharper turn. Last year’s contest was won by Navigators professional Ciarán Power, who went clear in the final ten laps with a small group of riders and easily took the finishing sprint ahead of 2001 winner Tim Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) and Stamullen M. Donnelly’s Craig Sweetman. The race is being held in memory of Paddy Flanagan, the former top Irish international. He is best remembered for his three wins in the FBD Milk Rás, in 1960, 1964 and 1975. The Kildare man took a total of eleven stage wins and is regarded as one of Ireland’s best amateur riders from the era. Places are limited for the 2003 Paddy Flanagan criterium, which has a prize fund of 800 euro. Race organiser John Malone is hoping to finalise entries by tomorrow evening (Wednesday), and can be contacted at 087 2453403. Race start: 2.45 (riders need to be ready before 2 o’clock, because of the parade). Sign on starts at 1 o’clock at the CYMS McCANN FIFTH IN FIVE VALLEYS PREMIER CALENDAR RACE, TAKES KOM: (By Shane Stokes Jun 15) Former national champion David McCann bounced back from his recent suspension to take a strong fifth in the Five Valleys Premier Calendar event held in Wales yesterday. The Endurasport professional was in the thick of the action all day, going clear with Life Repair rider Mark Lovatt and James Flanagan (Team Milton Keynes) after just 13 of the 112 miles had elapsed. These were later joined by Rory Wyley (London Irish) and then Huw Pritchard (Angliasport). McCann made a solo bid in the second half of the race but was eventually recaptured on the finishing circuit after a regrouping of those chasing behind. Lovatt attacked on the last of five laps of the circuit, racing clear on the ascent of Ynysygwas, and held off Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello RT) and John Tanner (Life Repair) to the line. McCann came home in the next group to take fifth, 23 seconds behind Lovatt. He was best in the king of the mountains competition. McCann recently returned from a six month suspension which was handed down to him following a positive test for norandrosterone in the Tour of Austria last year. The Belfast man maintains the substance probably originated from a contaminated dietary supplement. Subsequent analysis of the supplements he was taking at the time were carried out by the University of Aberdeen; one of the products tested revealed the presence of norandrostenidione, which McCann says has been found to cause high levels of norandrosterone in urine. The national time trial champion considered legal action after the lab finding, but ultimately decided not to pursue the matter due to the considerable legal costs he could have faced and the difficulty in proving the case. He recently signed a contract to compete with the new Endurasport pro team, which also features fellow Irishman Stephen Gallagher, and is clearly motivated to get back up to full speed again. Five Valleys Premier Calendar Road Race, Wales: 1, Mark Lovatt (Life Repair Team) 4 hours 43 mins 22 secs; 2, M. Elliott (Pinarello RT) at 14 secs; 3, J. Tanner (Life Repair Team) same time; 4, M. Ford (Artic Shorter) at 23 secs; 5, D. McCann (Team Endurasport) same time. King of the mountains: McCann POWER TAKES SECOND ON FINAL STAGE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 15) Having won the opening stage on Thursday, US-based professional Ciarán Power took another fine result on the concluding day of racing in the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Stillwater, Minnesota. The Navigators rider went clear of a breakaway group midway through the tough criterium, jumping away on the leg-breaking 24% hill on the circuit, and chased lone leader Trent Klasna (Saturn) all the way to the finish. Power took second, one minute and 55 seconds back, and ended the tough stage race twelfth overall. He was also an excellent second in the points classification, having finished first, seventeenth, third, 38th and second on stages. Power’s performance in the four-day event will be a huge psychological boost for the Waterford rider, whose confidence appears to have grown following his two stage wins in the FBD Milk Rás last month. With the national road race championships just two weeks away, he will travel back to Ireland fully intent on improving on his silver medal of twelve months ago. Nature Valley Grand Prix, stage 4, Winona road race: 1, Viktor Rapinski (Saturn) 106 miles in 4 hours 14 mins 58 secs; 2, Lieswyn; 3, Erker; 4, Danielson, all same time; 5, T. Johnson (Saturn) at 11 secs. Other: 38, Power, at 7 mins 46 secs Stage 5, Stillwater criterium: 1, Trent Klasna (Saturn Cycling Team) 1 hour 11 mins 8 secs; 2, C. Power (Navigators) at 1 min 55 secs; 3, P. Knudsen (Schroeder Iron) at 2 mins 8 secs; 4, J. Lieswyn (7-Up/Maxxis) at 2 mins 14 secs; 5, D. Ollerenshaw (Broadmark Capital) same time General classification after stage 5: 1, Trent Klasna (Saturn) 9 hours 47 mins 10 secs; 2, V. Rapinski (Saturn) at 32 secs; 3, Lieswyn, at 1 min 25 secs; 4, T. Danielson (Saturn) at 1 min 27 secs; 5, J. Erker (Schroeder Iron) at 2 mins 13 secs. Other: 12, Power, 8 mins 2 secs
Peelo and the other three riders had been part of a twenty-man group which went clear on the first of three rolling 28 mile laps, and which contained several danger-men. His Usher IRC team was best represented, with six riders in the group; Peelo, Mulcahy, Shane Baker, Greg Swinand, Eddie O’Donoghue and Aidan Yates all made the split, while Cycleways Lee Strand were the only other multi-represented team with Stephen O’Sullivan and Phil Finegan up front. Lennon and Donnellan were similarly in the hunt, as were junior rider Theo Harwick (Team Ireland), Páidí O’Brien (VC La Pomme), Triton St Finbars’ John Horgan, Dave Kane rider Owen Jeffreys and fellow northerner Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC), who was psyched after his win in the Audi Grand Prix yesterday. Killorglin’s Míceál Concannon, Mark Kiernan (Totalcycling.com/Lindsay Ford), Derek Finnegan (Navan RC), Fintan McCormack (Newbridge Cutlery) and Ciaran Farrell (unattached) also helped hold off the chasing bunch, which lingered fifty seconds in arrears until that tenuous elastic finally snapped just before the halfway point and the gap yawned open even further. Riding smoothly through and off, the riders initial focus was to stave off the efforts of those behind to get back on terms, but with the start of the third lap came the inevitable attacks. Donnellan was probably the most determined to break the escape into a more manageable number, but other riders also had a go, realising that their two minute lead threatened to bring complacence to the large group. And so for a period of about ten miles, the race featured constant surge and thrust, attack and counter attack, with Aiken’s short-lived solo bid paving the way for the crucial six-man move which would determine the top placings in the race. In addition to Peelo and Mulcahy, the Usher IRC flag was also being flown by Swinand in this move and their combined presence put considerable pressure on Lennon, Donnellan and Horgan. Although Swinand finally slipped backwards with Horgan, he was able to contribute enough to the gap-building to ensure the remaining four had a very strong chance of staying clear to the finish. Lennon and Donnellan were both clearly eager to take the victory but the Usher IRC double-whammy made things difficult for them. Peelo and Mulcahy took turns attacking the break as the finish neared and their two rivals had to expend considerable energy in hauling them back; Mulcahy’s bursts were each time chased down by Lennon, while Donnellan seemed to be finding it a little harder to keep Peelo under control. And while neither Usher IRC rider succeeded in going clear, their aggression meant that the odds were stacked in their favour when the quartet finally reached the final kilometre and prepared for the sprint. Mulcahy had a go from a long way out but was closed down by Lennon, who then kicked for home with about two hundred metres remaining. But Peelo was glued tight to his wheel, and on the uphill drag to the line he bided his time, picked his moment and then unleased the finishing gallop which carried him past the visibly frustrated St. Tiernans rider and over the line to an impressive win. Mulcahy came by Donnellan to take third, while behind their team-mate Shane Baker ripped clear of the chasers and finished just twenty seconds down, ensuring three Usher IRC jerseys in the first five today. Twenty-five seconds after that, Aiken took the sprint for sixth, edging out O’Brien and O’Donoghue. ‘I felt pretty good today,’ said Peelo afterwards, with considerable understatement. ‘The warm weather suits me well and that seems to have helped. I didn’t really feel under any pressure until the last lap.’ ‘There were six of us from the team and at that point, we dedicated ourselves to start attacking and braking things up a bit. It ended up with myself, Mick and Greg getting into a six man break so that was good odds. Greg and John Horgan then slipped back, but myself and Mick took turns attacking the group and putting the other two under pressure. I wasn’t actually confident coming to the finish as my legs were not in great shape after the jumping around. I thought Mick was reacting better. He had a go with one kilometre left, and that put me to the back of a group and in a good position. I knew that Brian (Lennon) was the one to watch as he has a good kick – if Andrew had got a gap before then, he would be a danger, but Brian seemed to be able to jump around a bit better yesterday.’ ‘As soon as Brian started his sprint I grabbed his wheel and got enough of a draft off him to start to come by. There was a car on the right and not a whole lot of room, but I was happy that Brian would keep his line. I was able to get by okay. It is great to get the win – my last was in the Shay Elliot in 2001, the year before it became a UCI race.’ ‘I think the Rás is definitely what has brought me on. I have moved jobs and now am not cycling across the city. It has been slower to build form because I have less base miles, but the Rás brought me on well and I am coming into good shape.’ Second-placed Brian Lennon was clearly on form today, looking smooth in the break and being in the thick of all the attacks. He had a delayed start to the season due to injury, missing the FBD Milk Rás as a result, but has been working hard ever since. Winning today was a goal, but Peelo’s strong finish saw the St. Tiernan’s rider lose out in the final fifty metres. ‘I am very disappointed,’ he said after the race. ‘I had great legs all day. It was very hard in the final few miles with the two Ushers working us over. Myself and Andrew (Donnellan) had to cover all of their attacks. We got to the finish together and when I went for it, I thought I had the win but Dave came by me just before the line. I am very disappointed, but glad to be going well again.’
Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix, Navan: 1, Dave Peelo (Usher IRC) 84 miles in 3 hours 17 mins 12 secs; 2, B. Lennon (St. Tiernan’s); 3, M. Mulcahy (Usher IRC); 4, A. Donnellan (Dublin Wheelers) all same time; 5, S. Baker (Usher IRC) at 20 secs; 6, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) at 45 secs; 7, P. O’Brien (VC La Pomme); 8, E. O’Donoghue (Usher IRC) both same time Senior 2: 1, Sean Gray (Harp CC); 2, P. Reid (Ravens CC); 3, L. Dumoulin (Kanturk CU); 4, J. Heraty (Staggs Lucan): C. Farrell (unattached)
Senior 3/junior/veteran/women’s race: 1, Peter Hawkins (Castlereagh CC); 2, O. Concannon (Killorglin Credit Union); 3, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers CC); 4, M. Nestor (Shannonside); 5, D. Burke (Realt CC) Veteran: Oliver McQuaid (Emerald CC); Women: 1, Beth McCluskey (IMBRC); 2, K. Bothwell (Hibernian Team Ireland) 3rd: D. Booth (Hibernian Team Ireland) Under 12: Benner Maguire (Drogheda Wheelers CC); 2, A. O’Connor (Navan Avonmore RC); 3, C. Crawley (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 4, L. McKenna (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 5, D. Connolly (Navan Avonmore) Under 14: James Kane (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 2, T. Martin (Clann Eireann); 3, M. McAree (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 4, A. Fiddes (Orchard Wheelers CC): 5, N. Rock (McNally Swords CC); 6, P. Lavery (DPC First Legal) Under 16: Thomas Jensen (Sorrento CC); 2, A. Coyle (Shannonside CC): 3, P. Nolan (Shannonside CC): 4, M. McGirr (Lakeland CC); 5, S. Williams (Orchard Wheelers CC); 6, M. Munroe (Clann Eireann) Michael Munroe was first across the line in the under 16 race, but was relegated to sixth as he raised both hands off the bars. BRACKEN TAKES DERMOT P. COYNE GRAND PRIX: (By Shane Stokes Jun 15) Usher IRC rider Sean Bracken used his strong finish to good effect at the end of the Dermot P. Coyne Grand Prix in the Phoenix Park on Saturday, outsprinting Cycleways Lee Strand’s Aidan Crowley, Paul Healion (North Kildare CC) plus the rest of the eleven-man breakaway group. The group had gone clear of the bunch shortly after the halfway point and built a thirty second lead. Usher IRC’s Greg Swinand made a strong solo bid for victory but was hauled back with just one lap remaining, paving the way for the sprint finish.
Second category: 1, Keith Bannon (Tilechoice); 2, B. Donnelly (Kilcullen CC), Juniors: 1, Keith Daly (McNally Swords CC); 2, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers), Third category: 1, D. Duffy (Cuchulainn CC) ; 2, S. Murphy, Women: 1, Tarja Owens (WORC); 2, B. McCluskey (IMBRC), Vets; 1. Oliver McQuaid (Emerald); 2. S. Bracken (Usher IRC) AIKEN BEST IN AUDI GRAND PRIX: (By Shane Stokes Jun 15) After an early season focussing on off-road competition, Banbridge CC rider Roger Aiken made a successful return to road racing when he won the Audi Grand Prix at Ballynure on Saturday. Fifth last week in the Tour of the Mournes, Aiken showed his good form when he went clear with Phoenix CC’s Matthew Ward on the second of nine seven-mile laps, and build up a lead which peaked at one minute 45 seconds. Aiken took the race in the final sprint, with Northern Dave Kanes’ Owen Jeffries leading home a five man break for third, thirty-five seconds later. Audi Grand Prix, Ballynure: 1, Roger Aiken (Banbridge CC) 100 kilometres in 2 hours 30 mins; 2, M. Ward (Phoenix CC) same time; 3, O. Jeffries (Northern Dave Kane Cycles CC) at 35 secs; 4, P. Bloomer (Harps CC); 5, M. Greer (Maryland Whs); 6, M. Lyttle (unatt); 7, P. Marshall (Toyota North Down CC) all same time; 8, B. Kirk (Ards CC) at 1.06; , W. Hamilton (East Antrim CC); 10, B. Graham (Total Cycling.com/Lindsay Ford) all same time. Veteran: Brendan Graham (Totalcycling.com/Lindsay Ford), Junior: David Watson (Northern Dave Kane Cycles CC). Second category: P. Marshall. Third category: John McCarthy (Maryland Whs) NO TOUR FOR SCANLON: (By Shane Stokes Jun 13) Hopes that next month would bring the first Irish participation in ten years in the Tour de France have evaporated with the news that Mark Scanlon's Ag2r team have chosen not to select the Sligoman for this year's contest. Scanlon has made an impressive debut this year with the French first division team, most recently taking an excellent fifth place on the opening stage of the Tour of Germany, and speculation had been building that the team would include the Irishman in its starting list for the arduous July race. However Ag2r's management have opted to take a cautious approach with the 22 year old, shielding him from the demands of the Tour this year. Many would see this as a sensible decision, given Scanlon's young age and the difficulty of cycling's biggest race. Now, after returning to defend his national road race championship later this month, he is due to have a short break from top-level competition before building up again for the second half of the season. Scanlon may yet have a chance to line out in one of cycling's three big Tours, however. According to his coach Padraig Marrey, the 1998 junior world champion has been pencilled in for a start in the three-week Tour of Spain this September. Scanlon is regarded as the biggest talent to emerge since Kelly and Roche. The Sligoman landed his contact with Ag2r following a highly impressive trial last Autumn, and is tipped for a top-level pro career by many within the sport. Ireland's last Tour participation was in 1993, when Stephen Roche finished 13th in his final season as a pro. MURPHY GETS TWO MONTH BAN: (By Shane Stokes Jun 13) Irish cyclist Conor Murphy has been banned from competition after a hearing this week relating to his positive test for pseudoephedrine. While the panel accepted Murphy’s explanation that finding was due to his careless use of a commonly available cold remedy, it applied a two-month ban to the Crannog Ireland rider. He could have been suspended for up to six months for the offence, which was detected following a urine test taken after the final stage of the Tour of Ulster on May 5th. When told of the positive result, Murphy declined to have his ‘B’ sample tested but was able to continue racing until his hearing yesterday. He was highly placed in several Northern events in that time. Murphy will be able to resume racing in mid-August. Commenting on the case, Cycling Ireland’s CEO Stuart Hallam backed up Murphy’s explanation but stressed the need for diligence. He pointed out that information on banned substances is freely available from a number of sources, including various websites and from CI directly itself.
'B' WORLDS WOMEN’S ROAD TEAM FINALISED: (By Shane Stokes Jun 12) The women’s road squad for next month’s 'B' world championships in Aigle was today announced by team manager Valerie Considine. Collette Swift, Marie Reilly, Debbie Booth, Beth McCluskey, Karen Bothwell and Kate Rudd have all been selected to take part in the crucial Olympic qualifying event, which is part of the championships running in Switzerland from July 5th-9th. Irish national road race champion Geraldine Gill and Louise Moriarty are notable exceptions from the team, but these two are unable to take part in the road event due to UCI rules excluding women with world-ranking points. The B world championships are open to nations outside the world’s top 30, and afford these countries the chance to secure places in the Athens 2004 Olympics. Ireland gained three places in Sydney through the high finishes of Ciaran Power, Eugene Moriarty and Deirdre Murphy in the 1999 B world championships. The line-up for the men’s road race team will be announced after the Grand Prix Criquelion in Belgium this weekend. The 1.6-ranked event will be used to select the final places up for grabs on the team; Eugene Moriarty, Tommy Evans, Tim Barry, Paul Griffin, Denis Easton and Brian Kenneally will all line out in Sunday’s race. Riders from outside this squad may however also be in the running for B worlds places. The identities of those to compete in the track championships in Switzerland will also be finalised in the next few days, according to track commission chairman Phil Collins. These will be officially announced next Saturday (June 21st) at Cycling Ireland’s media briefing in Manchester Velodrome. The day will serve as a training session for the squad and also be used to outline the plan for the B worlds and beyond. Before then, Louise Moriarty, Gillian McDarby and Rebecca O’Connell will ride the British Cycling Ladies Omnium at Herne Hill this weekend. DERMOT P. COYNE GP: This Saturday 14th May the Garda Cycling Club will promote their Dermot P Coyne Grand Prix in the Phoenix Park, taking place on the Ordnance Survey circuit. The event is open to senior, junior, veteran and women, and will be one hour and twenty minutes in duration. Prizes will be awarded to the first six home, the first two unplaced second and third cats, plus the first two in the veteran, junior and women’s fields.
Jimmy Devlin Memorial ten mile time-trial, Glenavy: 1, Paul Healion (North Kildare CC) 20 mins 38 secs; 2, G. Cranston (East Antrim) 21 mins 59 secs; 3, M. Greer (Maryland) 22 mins 1 sec; 4, T. McConville (Apollo CC) 22 mins 13 secs; 5, W. Hamilton (East Antrim) 22 mins 20 secs; 6, P. Nugent (Classic Walls) 22 mins 30 secs
Veteran: Sean Bracken (Usher IRC); Senior 2: Niall Quinlan (Cycleways Lee Strand); Senior 3: Martin Fitzgerald (Orwell CC); Junior: Thomas Duggan (Bray Wheelers CC) Woman: Rebecca O’Connor (Bray Wheelers CC) See Pictures Here... SCANLON FINISHES TOUR OF GERMANY: (By Shane Stokes Jun 8) Mark Scanlon finished toward the front of the main bunch on today’s final stage of the Tour of Germany, crossing the line in 26th place at the end of the 175 kilometre leg from Bad Dürkheim to Saarbrücken. First home was German rider Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner), who outsprinted his compatriot Erik Zabel (Telekom) and Australian Credit Agricole rider Stuart O’Grady to take a fine win. Scanlon finished the race a solid 57th overall. His best placing was an excellent fifth place on the opening stage. The 22 year old neo-pro is scheduled to take part in the Tour of Switzerland before returning home to defend his Irish road race championship title at the end of the month. Tour of Germany stage 7, Bad Dürkheim – Saarbrücken: 1, Olaf Pollack (Gerolsteiner) 175 kilometres in 3 hours 59 mins 17 secs (43.429 km/h): 2, E. Zabel (Telekom); 3, S. O’Grady (Credit Agricole); 4, S. Van Dijck (Lotto-Domo); 5, E. Baumann (Team Wiesenhof) all same time Other: 26, M. Scanlon (Ag2R Prevoyance) Final general classification: 1, Michael Rogers (Quick Step-Davitamon) 28 hours 49 mins 58 secs; 2, J. Azevedo (ONCE-Eroski) at 1 min 19 secs; 3, A. Vinokourov (Telekom) at 1 min 52 secs; 4, J. Jaksche (ONCE-Eroski) at 1 min 54 secs; 5, J. Ullrich (Team Bianchi) at 2 mins 1 secs Other: 57, Scanlon, at 26 mins 7 secs Wachovia US PRO Championship, Philadelphia: 1, Stefano Zanini (Saeco) 250 kilometres in 5 hours 56 mins 21 secs; 2, U. Murn (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiavé); 3, J. Dean (Team CSC); 4, M. McCormack (Saturn Cycling Team); 5, M. Van Heeswijk (US Postal Service) all same time Irish: 32, D. O'Loughlin (Ofoto - Lombardi Sports) same time. US champion: McCormack SEYMOUR, OWENS TAKE MAXIMUM POINTS: (By Shane Stokes Jun 8) Robin Seymour dominated yesterday’s Pog Challenge race in Ballinastoe Wood, Roundwood, riding away from the field early in the contest and eventually crossing the line over six minutes clear of the next rider, Phil Cooper of the BlueSkyCycles.com team. Banbridge rider Don Travers was a further 31 seconds behind, with the rest of the field further adrift. Other winners included Seymour’s Worc team-mate Tarja Owens, who beat Jenny McCauley in the elite women’s contest, junior Thomas Jensen (Sorrento CC) and Masters rider Peter McConville of the Newry Wheelers club. Cuchulain’s John McCabe was first home of the veterans, while Dominic Hegary (IMBRC, Sports race), Darren Quille (Newbridge CC, under 16), Nathan McCormick (Banbridge CC, under 14) and Michael Gordon (XMTB, under 12) completed the victory list. Seymour and Owens took maximum UCI points in the E2 event and so add to their total. They are hoping to reach the world ranking required to qualify Ireland for the Olympic Games by the cut-off point of December 31st this year. Pog Challenge, Ballinastoe Wood, Roundwood: Elite men: 1, Robin Seymour (Team Worc) 1 hour 17 mins 3 secs; 2, P. Cooper (BlueSkyCycles.com) at 6 mins 16 secs; 3, D. Travers (Banbridge CC) at 6 mins 47 secs; 4, A. McDonald (Apollo CT) at 7 mins 39 secs; 5, J. McCluskey (Team Worc) at 8 mins 9 secs; 6, G. Kinning (XMTB) at 9 mins 22 secs; 7, P. Buggle (Team Worc) at 11 mins 45 secs; 8, J. Mason (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 12 mins 16 secs Elite women: 1, Tarja Owens (Team Worc) 1 hour 37 mins 18 secs; 2, J. McCauley (unattached) at 1 min 50 secs Junior: 1, Thomas Jensen (Sorrento CC) 1 hour 27 mins 1 sec; 2, B. Nolan (Sorrento CC) at 53 secs; 3, A. McCoulough (XMTB) at 2 mins 39 secs; 4, C. McConvery (XMTB) at 18 mins 50 secs; 5, G. Wolfe (Sorrento CC) at 24 mins 6 secs; 6, D. Gordon (XMTB) at 34 mins 15 secs Masters: 1, Peter McConville (Newry Wheelers) 1 hour 29 mins 8 secs; 2, R. Lamont (XMTB) at 55 secs; 3, M. Jordan (IMBRC) at 1 min 43 secs; 4, A. Prina (unattached) at 7 mins 3 secs; 5, V. Fitzsimon (unattached) at 32 mins 35 secs; 6, M. O’Hagan (Newry Wheelers) at 32 mins 46 secs Veterans: 1, John McCabe (Cuchulain CC) 1 hour 37 mins 45 secs; 2, A. Ryan (Sorrento CC) at 1 min 23 secs; 3, P. McCann (Banbridge CC) same time; 4, E. Mullen (unattached) at 14 mins 35 secs; 5, E. McConvey (XMTB) at 34 mins 33 secs; 6, L. Walpole (IMBRC) at 42 mins 7 secs Sports: 1, Dominic Hegary (IMBRC) 1 hour 40 mins 38 secs; 2, B. Murphy (unattached) at 5 mins 13 secs; 3, B. Sheill (IMBRC) at 8 mins 18 secs; 4, S. Kent (MBUL) at 11 mins 22 secs; 5, D. O’Neill (MBUL) at 13 mins 19 secs; 6, G. McCabe (unattached) at 13 mins 48 secs Under 16: Darren Quille (Newbridge CC) 35 mins 17 secs Under 14: Nathan McCormick (Banbridge CC) 26 mins 55 secs; 2, G. Boyd (XMTB) at 1 min 5 secs; 3, C. Brown (XMTB) at 2 mins 40 secs; 4, R. Davidson (XMTB) at 7 mins 30 secs Under 12: 1, Michael Gordon (XMTB) 32 mins 20 secs; 2, W. Boyd (XMTB) at 1 min 10 secs; 3, M. Fitzsimons (Newbridge CC) at 2 mins 48 secs; 4, J. Laird (XMTB) at 12 mins 5 secs
Evans was part of a 14 man group which went clear halfway through Saturday’s 63 mile event. With two of the nine mile laps remaining he forged ahead with the promising young Ballymena Scott rider Ryan Connor, and was the faster of the two in their gallop. One minute and ten seconds later Crannog Ireland’s Conor Murphy outsprinted Stephen O’Sullivan to take third place, with Aidan Crowley, 2002 winner Denis Easton and the remainder of the break finishing a further twelve seconds down. Evan’s used his sprint to good effect again today when he won the four-man tussle which decided the Tour of the Mournes in Newry. He had been part of a five man group which went clear thirty miles into the race, but despite building up a two minute lead he, teammate Gary Crory, Murphy, Classic Walls’ Jonathan Dempsey and Mark Lyttle were caught by a seven man chasing group. Crory tried again and went clear alone, being eventually joined on the third category climb of The Alt by Evans, Murphy and Connor. These four raced on to the finish and here Evans took his fourth win since the FBD Milk Rás, outkicking Murphy, Conor and Crory. Banbridge CC’s Roger Aiken had mounted a brave chase but came in ten seconds down, while Craig Sweetman was first home of the chasing group and completed the top six. Elsewhere, Brian Kenneally won the Kingdom Bar Trophy race in Killorglin, leading home West Clare CC’s Vincent Gleeson and the local riders Eoin Concannon and Theo Hardwick. Sean Bracken (Usher IRC) improved on his second place last week in the Dunboyne Three Day when he emerged best in the Kevin McInerney memorial in Dunlavin, while Andre Engemann was first home of an early breakaway in the Stagg-Lucan road race on Saturday. Dublin Wheelers rider Lennie Corrigan was second, ahead of Ravens CRT’s Anto Moran. Tommy Givan Memorial, Hillsborough: 1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford) 100 kilometres in 2 hours 32 mins 50 secs; 2, Connor, at 1 sec; 3, Murphy, at 1 min 10 secs; 4, S. O'Sullivan (Cycleways Lee Strand) same time; 5, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 1 min 22 secs; 6, D. Easton (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford); 7, Aiken; 8, B. Stewart (Northern Dave Kane Cycles CC); 9, S. Gray (Harps CC); 10, Crory, all same time. 1st veteran: Graham Third category rider: Colm Watson (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford). Tour of the Mournes, Newry: 1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford) 115 kilometres in 2 hours 32 mins 10 secs; 2, C. Murphy (Crannog Ireland); 3, R. Connor (Ballymena Scott RC); 4, G. Crory (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford) all same time; 5, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) at 10 secs; 6, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly CC) at 45 secs; 7, P. Mulligan (Crannog Ireland); 8, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls); 9, M. Greer (Maryland Wheelers); 10, P. McMahon (unattached) all same time. First veteran: Brendan Graham (Total Cycling Lindsay Ford). Kevin McInerney Memorial, Dunlavin: 1, Sean Bracken (Usher IRC); 2, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers CC); 3, M. Nestor (Shannonside CC); 4, G. Loughnane (McNally Swords CC); 5, F. Whelan (Staggs Lucan CC); 6, A. Engemann (St. Tiernan’s CC) Veteran: D. McCarthy (Garda CC); 3rd Cat: D. Farrell (Hillcrest Hire CC); Junior: C. Crawley (Stamullen M. Donnelly) Underage: U/12: 1, C. Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers); 2, C. Farrell (Hillcrest Hire CC); 3, L. McKenna (Stamullen M. Donnelly) U/14: 1, A. Henry (Usher IRC); 2, G. Rigley (Bray Wheelers CC): 3, N. Rock (McNally Swords CC) U/16: 1, U. Monks (Bray Wheelers CC): 2, C. Kelly (Usher IRC); 3, S. Rock (McNally Swords CC) Staggs-Lucan Road Race, Lucan: 1, Andre Engemann (St. Tiernan’s); 2, L. Corrigan (Dublin Wheelers); 3, A. Moran (Ravens CRT); 4, C. Farrell (Ravens CRT); 5, J. Murphy (Fermoy); 6, B. Harris (Bray Wheelers); 7, D. Lane (UCD); 8, M. McLeavy (Dublin Skip) Kingdom Bar Cycle Race: 1, Brian Kenneally (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 2, V. Gleeson (West Clare CC); 3, E. Concannon (Killorglin Credit Union); 4, T. Hardwick (Killorglin CU); 5, M. O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 6, D. Cutting (Killorglin CU) DOWNHILL TEAM BIKES ARE STOLEN IN FRANCE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 8) Ireland’s downhill team suffered a crushing blow this weekend when 75 thousand euro worth of bikes and equipment were stolen from the team hotel at Alpe d’Huez in France. The squad were there to take part in the second round of the UCI downhill world cup but discovered early Saturday morning that thieves had broken into the hotel during the night and made off with their bikes and those of Portugese teams. The Spanish team were staying in a different hotel but also suffered the same misfortune in what appears to have been a carefully-planned blitz. ‘The lads are devastated,’ said team manager Jim Smith. ‘When we checked into the hotel the staff kindly agreed to store the bikes in an unused bar, which seemed secure, but thieves came with bolt cutters and got into the place during the night. It is a massive blow for the team as the hotel has no insurance to cover the loss, and the whole squad have now been left without their equipment.’ ‘We see this as the end of the Irish downhill team unless we can get bikes to compete in the next world cup in Canada. The way the UCI system works, we need points to qualify for next year. Without points we can’t qualify, and without bikes we can’t get points. All of the riders finance themselves – they get a little assistance from Cycling Ireland and Hibernian Insurance, and some from Stena Line, but most of the costs of racing are met by them personally. So this really is a huge blow to them, and something which is very difficult to deal with.’ The team managed to borrow bikes from competing squads but racing on unfamiliar machines meant that 17 year old Ben Reid was the only rider able to post a qualifying time. He finished 60th in the competition. The theft means that the Irish squad are under enormous pressure, particularly as the next round of the world cup in Canada is just two weeks away. SCANLON RIDES WELL IN TOUR OF GERMANY TT: (By Shane Stokes Jun 8) Mark Scanlon added to his list of solid time trial performances this year when he rode well in the penultimate-stage time trial of the Tour of Germany today. The first year Irish professional came in ahead of many of cycling’s big names in the 40.7 kilometre test, finishing the race against the clock in a time which earned him 23rd on the stage. Fastest was Australian Michael Rogers of the Quick Step-Davitamon team, who roared around the course in a time of 51 minutes and 36 seconds and seized the race leader’s jersey from the ONCE-Eroski rider José Azevedo. Azevedo had moved to the top of the general classification when he won yesterday’s mountainous stage. Second today in the solo test was the 1997 Tour de France leader Jan Ullrich, who once again looks set to be one of Lance Armstrong’s biggest rivals in next month’s Tour de France. Ullrich was 1 minute and 11 seconds slower than Rogers, while Scanlon finished three and a half minutes off the winning time. Scanlon placed 56th on Saturday’s mountain stage and goes into the final day of the race in a respectable 57th place overall. The Tour of Germany concludes tomorrow with a 175 kilometre race from Bad Dürkheim to Saarbrücken. Tour of Germany, Ravensburg – Feldberg: 1, José Azevedo (ONCE-Eroski) 191 kilometres in 4 hours 49 mins 49 secs (39.542 km/h); 2, I. Gonzalez De Galdeano (ONCE-Eroski) same time; 3, I. Nozal Vega (ONCE-Eroski) at 24 secs; 4, J. Jaksche (ONCE-Eroski) at 25 secs; 5, M. Rogers (Quick Step-Davitamon) at 32 secs Other: 56, M. Scanlon (Ag2r Prevoyance) at 10 mins 3 secs Stage 6, Bretten - Bretten ITT: 1, Michael Rogers (Quick Step-Davitamon) 40.7 kilometres in 51 mins 36.21 secs; 2, J. Ullrich (Team Bianchi) at 1 min 10.8 secs; 3, A. Vinokourov (Team Telekom) at 1 min 13.98 secs; 4, M. Rich (Gerolsteiner) at 1 min 25.04 secs; 5, U. Peschel (Gerolsteiner) at 1 min 26 secs Other: 23, Scanlon, at 3 mins 29.63 secs 24 Niki Aebersold (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 3.31.68 25 Stuart O'grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 3.39.77 General classification after stage 6: 1, Rogers, 24 hours 50 mins 41 secs; 2, Azevedo, at 1 min 19 secs; 3, Vinokourov, at 1 min 52 secs; 4, Jaksche, at 1 min 54 secs; 5, Ullrich, at 2 mins 1 secs Other: 57, Scanlon, at 26 mins 7 secs SCANLON TRIES IN GERMANY: (By Shane Stokes Jun 6) Mark Scanlon made several efforts to go clear on today’s fourth leg of the Tour of Germany, riding aggressively on the longest stage of the race which took the riders from Ansbach to Bad Wurzach / Allgäu. The 22 year old was clear in a small group at the bonus sprint 59 kilometres into the stage, placing third, but was hauled back by the Credit Agricole team. After 110 km he tried again, going clear in a group of four riders which contained Christophe Brandt (Lotto-Domo), Ralf Grabsch (Wiesenhof) and Bart Voskamp (BankGiroLoterij). None of these riders represented a threat to the lead of Grégory Rast (Phonak Hearing Systems) but they only got a minute's advantage before the peloton dragged them back by kilometre 128. Olivier Trastour (Ag2r), Matthé Pronk (BankGiroLoterij) and Nicola Gavazzi (Saeco) then had a go and opened a lead of five minutes 30 seconds, but were brought back with 10 kilometres remaining. That set the scene for a bunch sprint, won by Saeco’s Ivan Quaranta, who outpaced Lotto's Van Dijk and Ag2r's Kirsipuu in the gallop for the line. Scanlon was 31st on the stage and is now 52nd overall, fifteen minutes and two seconds down. Tomorrow's stage is guaranteed to bring about a big shakeup in the general classification, with two category one climbs awaiting the riders. Tour of Germany stage 3, Coburg – Ansbach: 1, Leon Van Bon (Lotto-Domo) 188 kilometres in 4 hours 40 mins 11 secs; 2, C. Agnolutto (Ag2r Prevoyance); 3, R. Van Der Ven (Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team); 4, E. Zabel (Telekom); 5, J. Kirsipuu (Ag2r Prevoyance) all same time. Other: 80, M. Scanlon (Ag2R Prevoyance) at 16 secs Stage 4, Ansbach - Bad Wurzach / Allgäu: 1, Ivan Quaranta (Team Saeco) 222 kilometres in 4 hours 52 mins 54 secs; 2, S. Van Dijk (Lotto-Domo); 3, Kirsipuu; 4, O. Pollack (Gerolsteiner); 5, Zabel, all same time Other: 31, Scanlon, same time Sprints: Nördlingen, km 59,1: 1, Roberto Lochowski (Team Wiesenhof) 6 points; 2, B. Schmitz (Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team), 4; 3, Scanlon, 2 General classification after stage 4: 1, Grégory Rast (Phonak Hearing Systems) 19 hours 6 mins 44 secs; 2, G. Lowik (Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team) at 11 secs; 3, Zabel, at 1 min 45 secs; 4, G. Glomser (Saeco) at 1 min 56 secs; 5, S. Wesemann (Team Telecom), at 1 min 58 secs Other: 52, Scanlon, 15 mins 2 secs DEIGNAN SHINES IN FRANCE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 6) Young Irish amateur Philip Deignan took his best victory to date last weekend when he ran out as overall winner of the Division One Espoir race, the Tour de Savoie. The three stage, 240 kilometre contest was held on tough circuits near to the Swiss border and the French Alps, and here the nineteen year old VC La Pomme rider took full advantage of his climbing ability. He performed well on stages one and two and then sealed victory on the final stage when he placed second to Loire rider Nicolas Dulac. Deignan finished one minute and 17 seconds clear in the overall standings. GILL HOLDS LEAD IN CHALLENGE DE NORMANDIE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 6) Irish road race champion Geraldine Gill recently took over the leaders jersey in the Challenge de Normandie series when she won a 60 kilometre road race on May 29th in Sainte Austreberthe. Gill was in a break with four others and made her move on the last of four laps to cross the line thirty seconds clear of the riders Gautier and Ayer. Two races remain in the series. MARREY HAPPY WITH SCANLON’S PROGRESSION: (By Shane Stokes Jun 6) Mark Scanlon’s coach Padraig Marrey has expressed his satisfaction with the Sligoman’s progression in the first few months of his pro career. Marrey, who guided Scanlon to his world championship success in 1998 and last year helped him build the kind of form which earned him a contract with Ag2r, has said that despite a huge workload, Scanlon is progressing very well. ‘Mentally and physically Mark is getting better and better,’ he says. ‘He has already done far more races than in the whole of last year, but it is bringing him on well. I am very impressed with how he has been doing – he lost focus a little in March, but came around quickly and has been working very hard. He has lost some weight and is in very good shape.’ Scanlon placed fifth on the opening stage of the Tour of Germany three days ago, sprinting strongly against some of the world’s top names. ‘It was great to see him up there in the sprints,’ says Marrey. ‘That will do a lot for his confidence. I was a bit surprised to see him involved in it as he hasn’t really gone for them since breaking his elbow a couple of years ago, but that shows how quick he is. His confidence is building and I think his first pro win is not far away.’ Scanlon is due to continue in the Tour of Germany until its conclusion on Monday, and will then go on to ride in the prestigious Tour of Switzerland. ‘That will do a lot for his climbing, and also help build his condition for the national championships. The race is up in Sligo this year and so Mark has a chance to show himself in front of his local supporters. He hasn’t really had a chance to do that since winning the junior world championships so it is a nice opportunity.’ Scanlon won the Irish nationals last year in Stamullen and is clear favourite for this year’s championship, which takes place on Sunday June 29th. FINAL COUNTDOWN TO WICKLOW 200: One of Ireland’s biggest rides takes place this Sunday, June 8th, when an estimated 1000 cyclists wheel out from the Tallaght Basketball arena and embark on two testing trips around Wicklow. More... LETTER FROM ABROAD: JOHN DEMPSEY: (By Shane Stokes Jun 6) 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 latest of his much-appreciated contributions to IrishCycling.com.
Sorry I have not being in touch in a while but I was busy the last few weeks riding a little race around Ireland, and for a while before the Rás I was suffering from a severe form of "energy conversation syndrome". In the three weeks leading up to the Rás I cut back on the training a good bit. I wanted to arrive on the start line as fresh as possible but I also had a good bit of racing to get through. The racing was going well as the form was very good…I rode a couple of dead flat races that did not suit me but I got through them with out too much trouble. I was not able to contest the sprints at the end but I was able to go with the attacks, which showed that the form was heading in the right direction. On the 3rd of May I rode Nantes-Riaille. This was dead flat for the first 60km so I just sat down the back of the bunch and hoped that it would stay together, which fortunately it did. We then had 13 laps of a 6.5km finishing circuit that was "lumpy"; after 3 laps I got clear in a group of 6. We worked well together and got a gap of 40seconds. Two other riders joined us and then the problems started, as then Nantes U had three riders in the break. I was ok with this as there was still 40km to go. But the other riders started missing turns and generally got very negative. A few laps later eight others crossed the gap leaving a lead group of sixteen riders. Nantes U now had six riders in the lead. The attacking then started in earnest and eventually six got away but only hovered ten to fifteen seconds ahead…yet it was impossible to get across with Nantes U controlling the race. I decided that I had two options approaching the finish - to wait for the sprint, and get a top ten, or to throw everything into an attack with one kilometre to go. If the leaders stalled at all I would make it across. I took the latter option and dragged a couple of riders with me; they sat on so I sat up as I was not giving them a free ride. I did not contest the sprint as it was very dangerous and rolled in for 16th, a lot happier with my condition than the result. Nantes U only got second!!! The next day I rode the Criterium de Rouge against more or less the same opposition, so I was hopeful of a good result. I could not have been more wrong. I felt wrecked on the bike and was really going crap. This surprised me as usually I have very good recovery. I climbed off after 50km despite the fact I was in the second group on the road. That evening it hit me….I have never been so physically sick in all my life. I spent the whole night in the bathroom and only managed two hours sleep. I could not eat for the following two days. I was getting worried as the start of the Rás was only ten days away. The whole week was a bit of a write off but I started to feel ok on the Friday. I had to skip a midweek race but I was feeling good enough to race on the Sunday in Chilland, which was a race my team were promoting. I can’t remember now but I think it was 10 laps of a 12km circuit. The course featured a 1km climb…I attacked on the first climb and won the KOM and in doing so I reduced a field of 105 down to 35. Not bad going!! EC Mayenne was well represented - we had five in the lead group so I was confident I could pull out a big result , especially as I was feeling really good. The group was gradually whittled down as the race progressed, I managed to win two more KOM primes. I decided with three to go it was time to make my move. I attacked three times during the lap; at one stage I was away with three other very good riders and I thought we would pull clear, but it was not to be. I was bit cooked the next time up the climb and twelve went clear with three of my team mates in it. That was basically the race over for me and yet again I finished sixteenth. I was very happy with my form but the result should have been better.
For the Rás I was riding with Iarnród Eireann with Paul Griffin, Kieran McMahon, John Peppard and Colm Bracken. I knew Paul and Kieran from last year in the Earl of Desmond but I did not know John and Colm at all. We all got on very well, though, and managed to ride well as a team. This was my first Rás so I was very nervous before the first stage, but I was surrounded by Rás veterans. John was on his seventh, Paul and Kieran were on their tenth and Colm was on his eighteenth!!! The first stage was handy. It was the easiest day’s racing I have done all season as it was into a headwind so it was very handy if all you had planed to do was follow wheels for the day, like me. The second day was far from handy; it was the most extreme weather I have ever raced in. I was so messed up mentally in the last 10km that I had convinced myself I had a rear wheel puncture. I said I would ride in on it as if I had stopped there was a good chance I would not get going again. I took it really easy on all the corners so I would not fall off. I told John our mechanic….but he said I had no puncture, the tyre was rock solid!! I had to go and lie down and question my sanity after hearing that. The third day was very hard with the Irish team giving an exhibition in riding in a crosswind. I could not stay with them and came in with a group eight minutes down. Day four was better….I managed to get up the road for thirty km or so, but unfortunately I had missed the winning break. I was in a chasing group of four with Ritchie Cahill, Eddie O'Donoughe and Brian Stewart. I hoped we could hold off the bunch for a top ten placing but it was not to be…we were caught with twenty km to go. The next day was the mountains. I was waiting for this all season. The break of eighteen went early but we missed the boat so Kieran, John, and Colm were riding on the front of the bunch with Bianchi. I was to stay with Paul and get over the first climb with him and help in between the two climbs. Unfortunately the break never came back so Paul’s hopes of a top ten on GC were dealt a serious blow. We also lost our lead in the county team competition. The next day was my best… I didn’t have to do too much work for Paul, so I was able to hang on to the leaders over Glengesh. I managed to finish in the front group that just failed to catch the leaders. I was even feeling good enough to have a go with 10km remaining but I nearly paid for that. We hit a climb just afterwards and when I was caught, I nearly went straight out the back! I was now up to 36th on GC which I was happy with. But stage seven was a disaster for me as I lost 25mins. I just had no strength at all - I got dropped on the second cat. Kieran did a good job in trying to save me but it was to no avail. I came in with a group of about twenty. I must apologise to everyone in the group as I was depressed out of my mind so I bit the head off a few people.. sorry. The last stage was not too bad, fast but short and sunny - a nice way to end the week. Overall I was happy with the week with the exception of the seventh stage. The team were great….Liam Walker, John Walker, Larry Farrell and Pauline McKay did a great job. All we had to do was ride our bikes, so I can’t thank them enough. Also a big thank you to Willie Byrne for organising the team and the sponsorship from Iarnród Eireann, Cyclelogical, Grant Thornton and the Cycle Superstore. I am back in France at the moment. I rode a Classic yesterday which was the second round of the Division 2 Championships. It was a unique race, a bit like Paris-Roubaix in that it featured eight sections of Chemi, which is basically dirt track. It was something else. I can't begin to describe how rough it was, it was a very hard and fast race as it was very important to be near the front. I was feeling a little bit tired but not too bad. But after 60km I was dropped on a flat section of road where we were doing 55kph. I just did not have the power for it which was disappointing, but I knew going into it that this race was not suited to me. The team is riding the Bouchles de Mayenne in three weeks, which is a 4-day UCI 2.6. I really want to make the team for that so I need to pull a few results out in the next two weeks. I will try not to take so long until the next entry as I heard during the Rás that a few of ye enjoy reading them, which tells me that ye are really easy to amuse or ye are not very busy in work! I have gotta go now as Jonathon (my flatmate) is going back to the UK for his sister’s weeding, so I have to drop him to the airport. He is taking his laptop with him so I have no internet access for 10 days!!! It's a tough life….. Take care, John Racing overseas? Interested in adding to the Letter from Abroad section? Mail Shane@irishcycling.com with your contribution. Thank you! Tour of Germany stage 2, Altenburg – Kronach: 1, Gerben Löwik (Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team) 183 kilometres in 4 hours 49 mins 40 secs; 2, G. Rast (Phonak Hearing Systems) at 1 sec; 3, F. Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) at 2 mins 20 secs; 4, K. Asle Arvesen (Team fakta); 5, S. Wesemann (Team Telekom); 6, I. Nozal Vega (ONCE-Eroski); 7, E. Zabel (Team Telekom) at 2 mins 25 secs Other: 81, M. Scanlon (Ag2R Prevoyance) at 15 mins 17 secs (120 finishers) General classification after stage 2: 1, Grégory Rast (Phonak Hearing Systems) 9 hours 33 mins 23 secs; 2, G. Löwik (Bankgiroloterij Cycling Team) at 24 secs; 3, Zabel, at 2 mins 1 sec; 4, S. O’Grady (Credit Agricole) at 2 mins 9 secs; 5, Wesemann, at 2 mins 11 secs; 6, Vega at 24 secs Other: 55, Scanlon, at 15 mins 8 secs SCANLON FIFTH ON OPENING STAGE OF TOUR OF GERMANY: (By Shane Stokes Jun 3) Mark Scanlon recorded his best professional result to date when he finished an excellent fifth on the opening stage of the Tour of Germany today. The 22 year old neo-pro came to the finish in Altenburg as part of the main bunch and sprinted for the day’s honours alongside Tour de France stage winners Erik Zabel and Stuart O’Grady, who were first and second this afternoon. Both Scanlon and his team will be delighted with the result, given that the 2.2-ranked German tour is a very prestigious event and is one of the major preparatory races for the Tour de France. Many of the world's biggest professional teams are competing in the seven day contest and Scanlon's high placing is a reflection of his huge potential. The Sligoman goes into tomorrow’s second stage in seventh place overall, two riders having secured time bonuses during today’s 180 kilometre first leg and so moving above him in the general classification. Multiple Tour de France points jersey winner Erik Zabel holds the race lead. Stage two will see the riders cover 183 kilometres between Altenburg and Kronach. Deutschland Tour (Tour of Germany), stage 1 (Dresden – Altenburg): 1, Erik Zabel (Team Telekom) 180 kilometres in 4 hours 43 mins 34 secs (38.953 km/h; 2, S. O’Grady (Credit Agricole); 3, G. Glomser (Team Saeco); 4, E. Poitschke (Team Wiesenhof); 5, M. Scanlon (Ag2r-Provoyance); 6, M. Rogers (Quick.Step-Davitamon) General classification: 1, Zabel, 4 hours 43 mins 19 secs; 2, O’Grady, at 8 secs; 3, Glomser, at 11 secs; 4, J. Vanlandschoot (Vlaanderen-T Interim), at 13 secs; 5, M. Backstedt (Team fakta), at 14 secs; 6, Poitschke, at 15 secs; 7, Scanlon; 8, Rogers, both same time Tour of Germany:
FRENCH PROFESSIONAL DIES: (By Shane Stokes Jun 3) Promising young professional Fabrice Salanson of the Brioches la Boulangère team was found dead today in his hotel room, just hours before he was due to start the Tour of Germany. It is though that the 23 year old died between 3.30 and 4.00 am, but the cause of his death is as yet unknown. He had been in fine health yesterday. Salanson was a rider who seemed set for a good career, having won stages in the Tour de l’Avenir and the Midi Libre in the past. The Frenchman’s death is the third in the professional ranks this season. Denis Zanette suffered a heart attack at the beginning of the year, while former Tour de France yellow jersey Andrei Kivilev died following a crash in the Paris-Nice race in March. German police are investigating the case. Salanson's body has been taken to hospital, where an autopsy will be carried out.
The first big move came just after the start of the 70 mile stage when 16 riders slipped clear and built a lead of one and a half minutes. A number of dangermen were present, including third-placed Lennie Kirk, who was just five seconds down overall. This group stayed clear for most of the stage, but the death-knell was sounded when first Paul Brady of McQuaid Tyres Emyvale (second overall, at two seconds) and then Killorglin Credit Union’s Eoin Concannon (fourth overall, at seven seconds) succeeded in getting across. Finally reeling in this group with about fifteen miles remaining, Duncan had little respite before an even more dangerous move went clear. Heading out of Summerhill, ten riders broke the elastic and pulled away, with Brady, Concannon, stage three winner Emmet Hogan (Galway Bay CC), Hardwick, Bracken, Maurice Hickey (Dungarvan, 5th overall at 8 seconds), John Murray (Fermoy), Barry Donnelly (Kilcullen CC), Sean Farrell (Hillcrest Hire) and Sorrento’s John Dorris combining together to form what looked a very dangerous move. Duncan’s Ireland team had spent much of today on the front but they were eventually able to get back on terms with the front runners. All, that is, expect for Hardwick and Bracken, who picked their moment to surge clear and succeeded in holding onto their advantage all the way to the finish. Heading towards the line, Hardwick put the head down and broke away to repeat his stage 4 success of 2002, while five seconds later a suffering Bracken wheeled across the line, praying he had done enough. Fate decreed it was not to be. Fifth in 2001 and third in 2002, the statistics pointed to a Bracken win but Duncan managed to hold on to yellow by just one second. ‘Very disappointed’ is all the normally-communicative Leinster rider would say after the stage, rueing the tiny margin by which he lost the race. Third place went to Brady, two seconds down, while Kirk, Hardwick, Concannon, Hickey and Leinster’s Joe Magill completed the top eight. Further down the field, Collette Swift, Debbie Booth and Karen Bothwell rode exceptionally well to finish inside the top 22, mixing it with the men throughout the race and showing that the women hoping to ride the B world championships are in fine form. See Pictures Here... Dunboyne 3 Day, stage 4 (Dunboyne-Dunboyne): 1, Theo Hardwick (Hibernian Ireland) 70 miles in 2 hours 56 mins 15 secs; 2, S. Bracken (Leinster) at 5 secs; 3, L. Kirk (Castlereaght Composite Team) at 30 secs; 4, S. Lally (Leinster Vets); 5, G. Loughan (McNally Swords CC); 6, D. Duffy (Cuchullain) all same time Final overall: 1, Frazer Duncan (Hibernian Ireland); 2, Bracken, at 1 sec; 3, P. Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale) at 2 secs; 4, L.Kirk (Castlereaght Composite Team) at 5 secs; 5, Hardwick, at 6 secs; 6, E. Concannon (Killorglin Credit Union) at 7 secs; 7, M. Hickey (Dungarvan CC) at 8 secs; 8, J. Magill (Leinster) at 11 secs WOMEN’S COMMISSION CALL FOR MORE RIDERS: (By Shane Stokes Jun 2) The next round of the Cycling Ireland women’s league will take place this Wednesday evening (June 4th) at 7.30 in Batterstown. A modest turnout thus far has prompted the organisers to call for more women to take part in the races, which are handicapped according to standard. The short events are open to all levels and newcomers are very welcome. The races are part of Cycling Ireland’s drive to try to increase the female representation in the sport. A new calendar for the remaining events in the league is currently being finalised and will be released shortly. More information is available from Cycling Ireland at 01-8551522 or directly from Valerie Considine of the CI Women’s Commission, who can be emailed at Valerie.Considine@taoiseach.gov.ie. She is also hoping to get marshals to help out at races, so anyone with a little bit of time at hand should also get in touch. HEALION WINS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS ‘25’: (By Shane Stokes Jun 2) North Kildare’s Paul Healion was fastest in the Champion of Champion’s time trial yesterday, covering the Ards course in a time of 55 minutes and 56 seconds. Namesakes Paul Kane (Dave Kane Northern CC) and Paul Doyle (Tilechoice CC) completed the podium, with the former 40 seconds down and Doyle 2 minutes 58 seconds behind. Champion of Champions time trial, Ards: (Jun 2) 1, Paul Healion (North Kildare CC) 25 miles in 55 mins and 56 secs; 2, P. Kane (Dave Kane Northern CC) at 40 secs; 3, P. Doyle (Tilechoice CC) at 2 mins 58 secs; 4, R. Bankhead (Ballymena CC) at 4 mins 36 secs; 5, S. Hargan (Totalcycing.com/Lindsay Cards) same time; 6, T. McConville (Apollo CC) at 4 mins 58 secs 1st Veteran: Hargan; 1st Lady: Lisa Rodgers (Dave Kane Northern CC) IRISH RIDERS IN MTB WORLD CUP: (By Shane Stokes Jun 2) Irish riders performed solidly in the second round of the MTB World Cup in Fort William, Scotland, over the weekend, with Glynn O’Brien in particular impressing in his downhill speciality. O’Brien finished a fine 35th in the elite race, posting a time which was 16.6 seconds off the winning pace of Frenchman Cedric Gracia in the contest. He also finished 30th in the four-cross race on Saturday, netting a grand total of 87 world ranking points in two days. Next of the Irish in the main event was Will Corry, six and a half seconds off O’Brien’s time and finishing 52nd, with Ben Reid (63rd), Andrew Yoong (70th) and Jamie Popham (72nd) also mixing it with the world’s best and taking UCI points. Michelle McCartney was the sole entrant in the women’s race, finishing 28th out of the small field which took part. Popham also finished 42nd in the four cross event, ahead of Reid (55th) and Yoong (65th). Tarja Owens was the highest scorer in the cross-country contest, netting 22 UCI points for her efforts in Saturday’s race. She finished 54th, 16 minutes and 12 seconds off the time set by Gunn-Rita Dahle of the Merida team. Jenny McCauley was eight minutes behind Owens, placing 65th. Robin Seymour finished 72nd in the men’s event, but will be disappointed to come away from the weekend with just three world ranking points. Like Owens and McCauley, he is aiming to get enough points by year’s end to ensure qualification for the Olympics, and so would have hoped to have scored better on Saturday. Seymour finished 17 minutes and 13 seconds behind Specialized rider Filip Meiraeghe, with Don Travers one lap down in 96th place. Roger Aiken (114th, at 2 laps), Glen Kinning (115, at 2 laps) and John Mason (116, at 2 laps) also took part. MTB World Cup round 2, Fort William, Scotland. Downhill, men: 1, Cedric Gracia (France) 4 mins 8 secs; 2, M. Pascal (France) 4 mins 9.2 secs; 3, N. Rennie (Australia) 4 mins 9.9 secs; 4, G. Minnaar (RSA) at 4 mins 11.6 secs; 5, S. Hill (Australia) 4 mins 12 secs; 6, C. Kovarik (Austria) 4.12.1 Irish: 35, G. O’Brien, 4 mins 24.6 secs; 52, W. Corry, 4 mins 31.1 secs; 63, B. Reid, 4 mins 34 secs; 70, A. Yoong, 4 mins 38.2 secs; 72, J. Popham, 4 mins 40.5 secs Women: 1 Celine Gros (Morzine Avoriaz) 4 mins 42.6 secs; 2, Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) 4 mins 45.4 secs; 3, E. Ragot (Maxxix Msc) 4 mins 49.6 secs; 4, T. Moseley (Kona Clarks) 4 mins 51.2 secs; 5, N. Le Caer (France) 4 mins 51.6 secs Irish: 28, M. McCartney, 7 mins 10.9 secs Cross country, Elite men: 1, Filip Meirhaeghe (Specialized) 1 hour 53 mins 15 secs; 2, L. Fumic (Team-T-Mobile) at 8 secs; 3, J. Absalon (Motorex Bianchi) at 19 secs; 4, C. Sauser (Siemens Mobile) at 29 secs; 5, J. Antonio Hermida (Motorex Bianchi) at 30 secs Irish: 73, Robin Seymour, at 17 mins 13 secs; 96, D. Travers, at 1 lap. 114, R. Aiken, at 2 laps; 115, G. Kinning; 116, J. Mason, both same DNF: James Mcclusky (Irl) Women: 1, Gunn-Rita Dahle (Merida) 1 hour 47 mins 25 secs; 2, S. Spitz (Merida) at 8 secs; 3, B. Blatter (Specialised) at 20 secs; 4, I. Kalentieva (Merida) at 1 min 32 secs; 5, A. Szafraniec (Lotto-Pzu SA) at 1 min 54 secs Irish: 54, T. Owens, at 16 mins 12 secs; 65, J. McCauley, at 24 mins 13 secs Downhill, four-cross: 1, Greg Minnaar (South Africa); 2, E. Carter (USA); 3, S. Peat (Team Orange); 4, M. Prokop (Czech.) Irish: 30, G. O’Brien; 42, J. Popham; 55, B. Reid; 65, A. Yoong
Duncan came in fifth in the 3.5 mile race against the clock, finishing a matter of seconds behind Theo Hardwick (Killorglin Credit Union), Leinster’s David Dukes and Sean Bracken, plus Keith Bannon of the Tilechoice team. His Hibernian Team Ireland junior team-mates then helped control affairs in the following 59 mile road race. The stage honours went to Galway Bay’s Emmet Hogan, who proved fastest of those in a small breakaway group at the finish. Second was Peter Hawkins (Castlereagh Wheelers), with Fergal Whelan (Stagg Cycles) third and Sean Bracken (Leinster), David Lane (UCD) and Fran Ennis (Staggs Lucan) next home. The bunch finished close behind, causing little change in the overall standings. Stage 2 TT: 1, Theo Hardwick (Killorglin Credit Union) 3.5 miles in 6 mins 22 secs; 2, D. Dukes (Leinster) at 2 secs; 3, S. Bracken (Leinster) same time; 4, K. Bannon (Tilechoice) at 7 secs; 5, F. Duncan (Hibernian Ireland) at 9 secs; 6, P. Byrne (Dublin Wheelers) at 10 secs Stage 3: 1, Emmet Hogan (Galway Bay CC) 59 miles in 2 hours 16 mins 43 secs; 2, P. Hawkins (Castlereagh Wheelers); 3, F. Whelan (Stagg Cycles Lucan); 4, S. Bracken (Leinster); 5, D. Lane (UCD); 6, F. Ennis (Stagg Cycles Lucan) all same time Overall: 1, Frazer Duncan (Hibernian Ireland) 4 hours 54 mins 22 secs; 2, P. Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale) at 2 secs; 3, L. Kirk (Castlereagh Wheelers) at 5 secs; 4, E. Concannon (Killorglin Credit Union) at 7 secs; 5, M. Hickey (Dungarvan CC) at 8 secs; 6, J. McGill (Leinster) at 11 secs EVANS DOMINATES UP NORTH: (By Shane Stokes Jun 1) Tommy Evans continued in the rich vein of form which earned him yellow in the recent FBD Milk Rás when he dominated both the Northern Ireland open road race championship and today’s round of the Classic League, the Noel Teggart memorial in Banbridge. The Totalcycling.com/Lindasay Ford rider finished alone at the end of both contests, going clear of his main rivals and soloing to the line. Evans’ victory yesterday came on the seven mile Bangor-Donaghadee-Orlock circuit, which the riders covered eleven times. In the early stages three riders went clear – Norman Campbell (unattached), Harry McKeegan (Team Madigan) and Maryland Wheelers’ Mark Greer, and after three laps up front these were joined by Evans. He worked with them for a lap before pressing on ahead, building a lead of one minute and 46 seconds in the final four laps of the race. Campbell, McKeegan and Greer were reeled in by the bunch, and while Jim McConnell (East Antrim CC) and Ballymena Scott RC rider Ryan Conor set off in pursuit of Evans, their chase was a futile one. Evans scooped gold ahead of McConnell and Conor, with Greer and Campbell netting fourth and fifth in a group which was over five minutes down. Mary Boyd (Roe Valley CC) won the women’s championship, while her team-mate Kyle Cromie took junior gold. Adam Petrie-Armstrong (Northern Dave Kane Cycles) and Michael Mitchell (Toyota North Down) won the under 16 and under 14 races. Today’s Noel Teggart Classic League race was run off in driving rain but French-based Evans showed no problems in coping with the testing conditions, repeating his wins of 1998 and 2002. Evans was clear with nine others before the halfway point of the 80 mile race, and with two laps remaining just six were left up front Present in the group were the league leader Joe Fenlon, his Cidona Carrick Wheelers teammates John O'Shea and Martin O'Loughlin, Brian Lennon (St. Tiernans), Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland) and Evans himself. Murphy’s presence in the race may come as a surprise to some, given the positive test for pseudoephedrine announced just two days ago, but under current rules he is permitted to race until his hearing. Lennon and O’Shea made their move on the penultimate lap, and with Evans and Murphy being marked down by O’Loughlin and Fenlon, they were able to build a 45 second lead. Evans and Murphy did eventually manage to slip clear and caught the leaders halfway around the final circuit. While Evans is a fast finisher, he was leaving nothing to chance. He made an unsuccessful effort on the four mile drag up from Scarva, then managed to break the elastic when he kicked again near the top. Riding hard to the finish, he opened up a 13 second lead over Murphy and O’Shea, with Lennon’s fourth place ten seconds later that showing that he is coming back well from injury problems earlier this season. In the day’s supporting events, the veteran East Antrim rider Jim McConnell also won the senior two, veteran and junior race with an impressive ride. McConnell made his move on the second of five laps, building a 49 second lead over Colm Crowley (Stamullen M. Donnelly) by the finish. Brian Henning (Newry Haldane Fisher CC), Michael McAree (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale CC) and Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers) were best in the under 16, under 14 and under 12 events. Northern Ireland Open Road Race Championship, Bangor: 1, Tommy Evans (Total Cycling Lindsay Cars) 77 miles in 3 hours 14 mins 36 secs; 2, J. McConnell (East Antrim CC) at 1 min 46 secs; 3, R. Connor (Ballymena Scott RC) same time; 4, M. Greer (Maryland Wheelers) at 5 mins 12 secs; 5, N. Campbell (unattached); 6, S. Thompson (Maryland Wheelers); 7, J. Dill (East Antrim CC); 8, B. Kirk (Ards CC) all same time Women: 1, Mary Boyd (Roe Valley CC) 28 miles in 1 hour 20 mins 10 secs; 2, T. Brown (Northern Dave Kane CC); 3, M. McKee (Phoenix CC), all same time. Juniors: 1, Kyle Cromie (Roe Valley CC) 42 miles in 1 hour 55 mins 49 secs; 2, C. McCaughan (Ballymena Scott RC) at 44 secs; 3, D. Dougan (Ballymena Scott RC) at 6 mins 52 secs Under 16: 1, Adam Petrie-Armstrong (Northern Dave Kane Cycles) 28 miles in 1 hour 17 mins 25 secs; 2, T. Calvert (Roe Valley CC) at 4 mins 34 secs; 3, M. Robb (Banbridge CC) same time. Under 14: 1, Michael Mitchell (Toyota North Down) 14 miles in 43 mins 52 secs; 2, Nadine Morris (Ballymena Scott RC) at 3 secs; 3, R. Beggs (Banbridge CC) at 2 mins 7 secs Noel Teggart Memorial, Banbridge (Classic League event): 1, Tommy Evans (TotalCycling.com/Lindsay Cars) 80 miles in 3 hours 20 mins 3 secs; 2, C. Murphy (Crannog Ireland) at 13 secs; 3, J. O'Shea (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) same time; 4, B. Lennon (St. Tiernan’s CC) at 23 secs; 5, J. Fenlon (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 1 min 41 secs; 6, M. O'Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Whs.) same time; 7, D. Cutting (Killorglin CU CC) at 5 mins 18 secs; 8, B. Graham (TotalCycling.com/Lindsay Cars) same time Senior 3/junior/veterans: 1, Jim McConnell (East Antrim CC) 2 hours 33 mins 6 secs; 2, C. Crowley (Stamullen M. Donnelly CC) at 49 secs; 3, O. McQuaid (Emerald CC) at 1 min 33 secs; 4, E. Crory (Newry Haldane Fisher CC); 5, D. Cormican (Phoenix CC); 6, J. Conran (Four Masters CC) all same time. Under 16: 1, Brian Henning (Newry Haldane Fisher CC); 2, M. Murray (Clann Eireann); 3, S. Williams (Orchard CC). Under 14: 1, Michael McAree (McQuaid Fireplaces Emyvale CC); 2, J. Kane (Emyvale); 3, T. Martin (Clann Eireann). Under 12: 1, Peter Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 2, C. Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers); 3, C. Blayney (XMTB). NALLY IN PORTUGAL: (By Shane Stokes Jun 1) First year Irish professional Dermot Nally has been performing solidly in the Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal, riding steadily in the first four stages and then putting in a strong showing in the 10.5 kilometre stage 5 time trial. Nally finished 24th in the test against the clock, just 31 seconds off the winning time of Jean Delatour rider Eddy Seigneur. He moved to 56th overall, 8 minutes and 25 seconds behind Andrei Zintchenko of the LA-Pecol-Bombarral team. The race ends today with a 116 kilometre road race starting and finishing in Beja. Nally started the 2.3 tour by finishing in the main bunch in the first stage, which saw the riders take in 176 kilometres around Evora. Day two’s uphill finish saw the riders come home in small groups and here Nally finished 7 minutes and 23 seconds behind winner Adrei Zintchenko (LA-Pecol-Bombarral), in 65th place. A bunch finish followed twenty four hours later, while yesterday's hilly morning stage saw Nally place 59th, 1 minute and 18 seconds behind Cantanhede’s Victor Gamito. Volta ao Alentejo, Portugal (2.3). Stage 1, Evora-Evora: Eddy Seigneur (Jean Delatour) 176 kilometres in 4 hours 11 mins 30 secs; 2, A. Zintchenko (LA-Pecol-Bombarral); 3, L. Sarreira (Cantanhede-M. De Marialva) Other: 69, D. Nally (Paternina-Costa Almeria) at 31 secs Stage 2, Mora – Portalegre: 1, Andrei Zintchenko 158 kilometres in 4 hours 21 mins 16 secs; 2, P. Arreitunandia (Carvalhelhos-Boavista) at 8 secs; 3, P. Andrade (LA-Pecol-Bombarral) at 11 secs Other: 65, Nally, at 7 mins 23 secs Stage 3, Alcaçovas – Mourao: 1, Jean Patrick Nazon (Jean Delatour) 167.5 kilometres in 3 hours 51 mins; 2, A. Edo (Maia-Milaneza-MSS); 3, P. Costa (Cantanhede-M.De Marialva) both same time Other: 74, Nally, at 8 secs Stage 4, Monsaraz-Monsaraz: 1, Victor Gamito (Cantanhede-M. De Marialva) 68.8 kilometres in 1 hour 29 mins 36 secs; 2, P. Cardoso (Maia-Milaneza-MS); 3, C. Climent (Barbot-Torrie) both same time Other: 59, Nally, at 1 min 18 secs Stage 5, Aldeia Da Luz-Aldeia Da Luz ITT: 1, Eddy Seigneur (Jean Delatour) 10.5 kilometres in 12 mins 43 secs; 2, A. Markov (Lokomotiv) at 2 secs; 3, V. Gamito (Cantanhede-M.De Marialva) at 3 secs Other: 24, Nally, at 31 secs General classification after stage 5: 1, Andrei Zintchenko (LA-Pecol-Bombarral) 14 hours 6 mins 19 secs; 2, P. Ferreira (Cantanhede-M.De Marialva) at 29 secs; 3, H. Sabido (Barbot-Torrie) at 34 secs Other: 56, Nally, at 8 mins 25 secs
Many riders were left stranded in the main bunch, but despite the efforts of some, the group up front wasn’t seen again until after the finish. Working well together, the two dozen front runners came to the line over one minute clear, and here a fast-finishing Duncan got the better of McQuaid Tyres’ Paul Brady and John Murray from Fermoy, plus the others in the break. The three day event continues today with two stages, a short time trial and then a road race this afternoon. 64 miles Stage 1 Dunboyne Three Day, stage 1: 1, Frazer Duncan (Hibernian Ireland) 64 miles in 2 hours 30 mins 56 secs; 2, P. Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 3, J. Murray (Fermoy CC); 4, S. Mulvanney (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 5, L. Corrigan (Dublin Wheelers); 6, G. Heverin (Castlereagh Wheelers) all same time See Pictures Here... |
SCANLON
RACES TO SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP WIN: (By Shane Stokes Jun
29)
Amongst the local cycling aficionados in Sligo yesterday, all the talk was
whether local rider Mark Scanlon could pull off his second successive win in the
national road race championships. The 22 year old former junior world champion
was, on paper at least, the most likely to succeed due to his huge natural
ability and the level of racing he has done so far this year. Since turning
professional with the Ag2r first division squad, he has competed in races such
as the Tour Down Under, the Tour of the Mediterranean, Milan-San Remo, the Tour
of Germany and the Tour of Switzerland, by and large a level above anything the
other riders in the field had done this season. 
IRISH DOWNHILL RIDERS
BOUNCE BACK: (By Shane Stokes Jun
29) The Irish downhill team bounced back from the recent theft of their
bicycles to place four riders inside the top fifty at the fourth round of the
UCI World Cup in Mont Sainte Anne, Canada. With most of the team riding bicycles
provided by Orange under a special deal to keep the squad up and running, the
display by Will Corry, John Lawlor, Jamie Popham and Andrew Yoong was a clear
sign that morale remains high on the squad. Indeed Corry took the best ever
World Cup result by an Irish downhill rider, placing a fine 26th in the race
which was won by Briton Steve Peat. Yoong finished 43rd in the four-cross event.
Now back to full health, her determination has led
to some fine performances this week. Kylee took second in the five kilometre
time trial, fourth in the fifteen kilometre road race and fourth again in the
ten kilometre time trial. But the biggest reward is what the Special Olympics
has done for her ever since she became involved with it.
Mooney went to the Isle of Man eighteen years ago
to take part in the Manx cycling week, fell for a local girl and moved over
there, marrying her. Four years ago the Belfast man started coaching Guy, and
has a lot of affection for the rider. 'He is like one of the family now', he
said. 'When you start working with a Special Olympic Athlete, you become very
close to them.'
SCANLON
AIMS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENCE: (By Shane Stokes Jun
27)
Just two days after he finished a solid 58th in his first Tour of Switzerland,
Mark Scanlon is home and preparing for the national road race championships
which are taking place in his native Sligo this Sunday. The 22 year old Ag2r
professional has had an exhausting time of late, taking part in five stage races
in six weeks, and so faces a tough task in his efforts to defend the national
title he won last year in Stamullen. However, should he manage to recover in
time, the high standard of the events he has competed in this year should make
him a level above the rest of Ireland’s professionals on the day.
'I was in Belgium for the past three weeks,' said
Ahern, before the prize presentation. 'I was fifth in a big under 23 race last
Sunday and also rode a big under 25 event plus a few other races. I am back for
the national championships but will probably head out again after that. The
Irish team will be doing a few big races and the European championships are
another big goal.
‘The
plan now is to try to win our club’s race on Wednesday, the Stephen Roche
Classic. I took it in 1991 and it would be great to do so again. I would also
love to do a good ride in the nationals – I would be happy with a top ten, and
a top five would be really great’.
EVANS
BEST IN TOUR OF THE SPERRINS: (By Shane Stokes Jun
22)
TotalCycling.com/Lindsay Ford rider Tommy Evans took his sixth victory since his
stage win in the FBD Milk Rás last month when he won the Tour of the Sperrins
in Cookstown on Sunday. Following on from his win in the Ulster road race
championships, the northern rider has highlighted his good form for this weekend’s
national road race championships and will be motivated to improve on his bronze
medal of last year.
SCANLON
RIDES WELL IN TOUR OF SWITZERLAND: (By Shane Stokes Jun
18)
Ag2r professional Mark Scanlon had a strong ride on today’s second stage of
the Tour of Switzerland, breaking away 45 kilometres into the stage with
Quick.Step rider Jurgen Van Goolen and spending over 100 ahead of the main
bunch. The duo established a maximum lead of over seven minutes on their
breakaway, but soon afterwards the peloton set about closing the gap. At this
point, Van Goolen made what seemed a serious error of judgement. Riding on the
fourth category climb of Genolier, 26 kilometres from the finish in Nyon, the
Belgian attacked Scanlon and went clear alone, cresting the summit with a 40
second lead.
SEAN
NOLAN MEATH GP GOES TO PEELO: (By Shane Stokes Jun
15)
Riding one of the last big events before Sunday week’s national road race
championships, Usher IRC rider Dave Peelo got the better of St. Tiernan’s
Brian Lennon, his team-mate Mick Mulcahy and Dublin Wheelers’ Andrew Donnellan
at the end of the Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix today. The victory was Peelo’s
first since winning the Shay Elliot Memorial in May of 2001, and shows that his
participation in last month’s FBD Milk Rás has earned him some strong form
for the second half of the season.
Dermot P. Coyne Grand Prix, Phoenix Park: 1,
Colm Bracken (Usher IRC) 1hour 14 mins 58 secs; 2, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee
Strand); 3, P. Healion (North Kildare CC); 4, P. Doyle (Tilechoice); 5, P.
Moriarty (Dublin Skip); 6, P. O’Brien (VC La Pomme)
HEALION
TAKES JIMMY DEVLIN TT: (Jun 11)
North Kildare CC rider Paul Healion highlighted his current good form with a
strong showing in the Jimmy Devlin ten mile time trial in Glenavy, recording a
time of 20 minutes and 38 seconds in the race against the clock. The ride saw
him finish one minute and 21 seconds ahead of East Antrim-Audi's Gary Cranston,
with Maryland's Mark Greer taking third.
Usher
IRC Grand Prix, Phoenix Park: (Jun 10)
1, Stephen O’Sullivan (Cycleways Lee Strand); 2, D. Peelo (Usher IRC); 3, P.
Finegan (Cycleways Lee Strand); 4, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand); 5, C.
Bracken (Usher IRC); 6, M. Kiernan (Totalcycling.com/Lindsay Ford)
ROAD
RACE SUM-UP: (By Shane Stokes Jun
8)
FBD Milk Rás stage winner Tommy Evans continued his domination of the northern
scene when he won both races in the region this weekend. Evans is home on a
break from racing with the VC La Pomme team in France and showed the benefits of
his many weeks of foreign competition this year when he was first across the
line in the Tommy Givan Memorial in Hillsborough and today’s Tour of the
Mournes.
Hello
all,
FRAZER
HOLDS ON BY ONE SECOND: (By Shane Stokes Jun 2)
Hibernian Ireland junior Frazer Duncan today won the Dunboyne 3 day by the
slenderest of margins, ending the hard-fought contest just one second ahead of
Leinster’s Sean Bracken. Duncan and his Hibernian Ireland team-mates had a
tough time of it throughout the stage, having to cover several dangerous moves
and finally almost losing out when Bracken and stage winner Theo Hardwick made
their surge with eight miles to go.
DUNCAN
HOLDS YELLOW: (By Shane Stokes Jun 1)
Hibernian Team Ireland’s Frazer Duncan successfully defended his lead through
stages two and three of the Dunboyne Three Day today, riding strongly in the
morning’s 3.5 mile time trial and then finishing with his main rivals in the
afternoon road race.
DUNCAN
TO THE FORE IN DUNBOYNE: (By Shane Stokes May
31)
Junior national team rider Frazer Duncan was the winner of the opening stage of
the Dunboyne three day yesterday, out-sprinting a large breakaway group to take
the 64 mile leg. The day’s action began with the female riders getting a five
minutes start on the rest of the junior, veteran and senior 2 and 3 field, and
these stayed clear until a breakaway group of 18 riders joined up with them
after twenty miles.