National criterium champion Eugene Moriarty showed good form in advance of the Tour of Britain start in Scotland today when he finished a fine eighth in the Glasgow Grand Prix yesterday evening. The race was won by Polish rider Peter Mazur (Navigators Insurance) in a sprint finish with Dean Downing (Recycling.co.uk), the two riders having lapped the main field during the 1 hour 5 minute street race.

Downing’s team-mate Rob Hayles took third, while Moriarty finished to the fore of the bunch sprint for fourth place. Three other Irish riders took part; Moriarty’s Ireland team mates Paídi O’Brien and Roger Aiken, plus Navigators Insurance professional Ciarán Power. All were active during the event, going clear from the main bunch. Power made an attempt to get across to the two leaders early on but was unable to close the gap.

These will be joined by Paul Healion and Ryan Connor (Team DFL), plus David McCann, Paul Griffin and Tommy Evans in the Tour of Britain lineup today. The race begins with a mainly flat 184.2 kilometre stage from Glasgow to Castle Douglas, and finishes in London this Sunday.

A strong lineup has been confirmed for the 2.1 ranked event. World time trial champion Michael Rogers and road race bronze medallist Luca Paulini (QuickStep) lead the charge, with big names including the T-Mobile pairing of current Russian road race champ Serguei Ivanov and 2004 Tour of Flanders victor Steffen Wesemann.

“I didn’t feel great out there as it is my first race in a while,” said Moriarty after the criterium. “But it worked out fine in the end.”


Glasgow Grand Prix 2005

August 29 (British Cycling Elite Circuit Series Event)

1, Peter Mazur (Navigators Insurance)
2, Dean Downing (Recycling.co.uk) same time
3, Rob Hayles (Recycling.co.uk at 50 seconds
4, Rusell Downing (Recycling.co.uk at 1 lap
5, Ian Holt (Viner Bikes Agisko)
6, Evan Oliphant (Scotland)
7, Phil Zajicek (Navigators)
8, Eugene Moriaty (Team Ireland) all same time

Other: 17, Paidi O'Brien Team Ireland