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Last Updated: Apr 30th, 2008 - 21:17:35 |
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
By Tommy Campbell
Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
Apr 30, 2008,
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© Tommy Campbell
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In more than one way it could be the calm before the storm! Less than three weeks to go to the FBD Insurance Ras which has a unique place in the annals of Irish cycling and God knows the amount that has been spoken about the event and what is more what has been written about the great race and the characters that can relive the race as if it was yesterday.
TOUR OF ULSTER
Thankfully, the Omagh Sports Forum Tour of Ulster and the Corkman Three Day to a lesser extent are at hand to allow the possibles and the probables to make their mind up if the great event is for them on the 18th of May in Navan and the following Sunday for the survivors to head for Newbridge for the grand finale in Skerries.
The entry list for the Omagh Sports Forum Tour of Ulster allocates 109 numbers with uno going to the defending champion from the all conquering squad the PEZULA boys from the Galway based firm Ryan Connor and the last man listed is Ritchie McCauley who certainly has been around the block and despite the years has lost none of his sharpness. Ritchie is a former stage winner back in the days when the Bray Wheelers were sponsored by Coors!
Dotted amongst the manes on the start list is the Giant Asia professional Paul Griffin. Paul has been third and fifth in the last two races and will be out to impress the selectors for a slot on the Irish team for the 'Ras.'
Whist the locals maybe slightly outnumbered by the Leinster, Munster and Connacht contingents, make no mistake that Fraser Duncan, Adam Armstrong can be counted on, to show the way.
With the M. Donnelly Junior Tour in the offing, it is interesting to see the permutation of the Irish team. Banbridge's Sean Downey leads the team. Obviously, the MyHome.ie/Cycleways/BDBC have been less than a threatening force so far this season, but one feels that the clock is ticking in favour of them. As the team leader Aidan Crowley would say 'watch this space.'
I have a sneaking suspicion that the armoury will come to the fore this weekend with Stephen O'Sullivan who has been sneaking up the scale since the Pauline Sugrue Auctioneers Ras Mumhan at Easter. But there are miles to be covered over the May weekend.
The first stage of this year’s tour is Omagh to Omagh which is a difficult stage. With the stage length just short of 80 miles and also three major climbs to get over. The second stage also starts and finishes in Omagh and is a very hilly stage. Stage three is a 2.5 miles Individual Time Trial on the Dromore Road with an out and back course. The stage will be for the time trial specialist, on a flat course.
The final stage which ideally suits all is from Omagh to Omagh which is a relatively flat stage with only three climbs early on in the stage and at over 70 miles will be a very fast stage.
CORKMAN 3 DAY
Dan Curtain realised many years ago that there was a niche in the cycling calendar for an event in Munster over the May bank Holiday weekend! And! So was born the Corkman Three Day. In the beginning Dan always had a major sponsor for the race. But, not this year as Kanturk Cycling Club is now known as Kanturk Town.
Recently in the Pauline Sugrue Auctioneers Ras Mumhan, I was brought to heel by none other than the great Mr. Curtain. I was listing his riders over race radio as 'Kanturk Cycling Club,' but it should have been 'Kanturk Town.'
Earlier today I had a conversation with Dan and he duly explained that "the reason behind the naming of the club and why the Corkman was standing on its own two feet. Quiet a number of sponsors are now involved with the club and I thought it appropriate that we call the race the Corkman Three Day.
"With a stage race that will be based in the Kanturk area, it is important that the community benefits. "The Corkman will not take away from the action as we are catering for underage. The Senior Two-Three, Veteran, Ladies and Juniors will be the main event, but we will not take our eyes and ears off tomorrow's cyclist. "I have also left it open for people to sign on the day," said Dan as he excused himself to talk real cycling to a gentleman on the street.
In the absence of Sam Bennett of the Dan Morrissey/Carrick Wheelers outfit, the race looks more open. But, the Tipperary lads can still muster a squad who'll be there or thereabouts when the silverware is being dished out on Monday afternoon and presumably Martin O'Loughlin will be in the queue for recognition.
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Some Other Event News:
RAS NA NÓG
Due to unfortunate circumstances which exist at the present time, Drogheda Wheelers wish to announce that they will not be in a position to promote our Rás na nÓg youth race at the whit weekend. Due to the huge success that this event was last year, it is with huge regret we take this decision. It is hoped that the event can be run at a later date.
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ST. FINBARR'S SUMMER LEAGUE
The annual summer league promoted by St Finbarr's CC will start on May 1st 2008 on the "Monaghan's Road" circuit in Cork city. The senior race will commence at 7.00pm and consist of 1 hour plus 3 laps. This event is open to S1, S2, S3, J, V & L categories. There will be an underage racing from 6.30pm.
Further information from John at 021-4961516, Eddie at 087-2388624
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Irish Veterans Cyclists Association
Please note that the next IVCA event is this coming Sunday 4th May'2008 is DMS race
Race is 70km(approx 45 miles) DMS starting/sign-on Duleek (old school on the Abbey Road) if you are coming through the Town from Drogheda direction take a left just before you reach the edge of the Town as the road curves around to the right - "if you continue on it will bring you on to the Navan road "turn back" you've gone to far.......!!!!
9.15am Latest sign-on time 9.00am
Directions: Go out the N 2 (Ashbourne/Slane Road), stay on the new road around Ashbourne, continue about 10km after Ashbourne and take a right at the cross roads (Kentstown/Abbey to Duleek) and you are on the "Abbey road" to Duleek. The start is outside the School.
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2008 Tommy Campbell,
IrishCycling.com.
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