Cycling Reports |
Irish climb the wallReport By Gerry McManusEmail: gerry@londonirish.freeserve.co.uk
David O’Loughlin, John Brady (Ofoto Lombardi
Sports) and Ciarán Power (Navigators) will ride the 156-mile
event which climbs the famous Manayunk Wall ten times. The Wall has a 1-in-5
gradient that will certainly cause some retirements in the 200-strong
field. The absence of Tyler Hamilton and Lance Armstrong, racing in Europe, will not make the race any easier. Last year’s event was run off at over 26 m.p.h and was won for the second time by Fred Rodriguez (Domo Farm Frites). George Hincapie (US Postal) will be seeking revenge after finishing third.
Yaroslav
Popovych (Landrouwkredit Colnago) surprised many with 12th place on
G.C in the tour of Italy and he leads the second division’s team challenge. Iteamnova
field a strong squad headed by David McKenzie. Phil Anderson replaces Sean Yates
as team manager for the U.S events. Fellow Austalian Henk Vogels (Mercury) will
not be far away from the winner having finished 10th last year. Over 700,000 spectators are expected to line the 14.4 mile circuit with live national TV coverage too. The race is also the National Championship race for U.S Riders and this will ensure little co-operation between competing riders against foreign competition. Some of the other team names are familiar whilst some of their riders are not with Lotto Adecco, Saturn, Mapei Quick Step and Saeco Longoni Sport competing for the total purse of $133,250.
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Three
Irish riders line up for the First Union series that culminates with the USPRO
championships in Philadelphia on Sunday 9th June.
If
Navigator’s Marty Northstein stays the pace, Ciarán Power will be the likely
lead out man for the former sprint world champion who has already has a win and
second in to his name in criteriums last month.