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Last Updated: Aug 7th, 2008 - 23:22:13 |
WEEKEND ROUNDUP:
By Tommy Campbell
Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
Aug 7, 2008,
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© Tommy Campbell
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Without doubt on Saturday, the cycling aficionados of cycling in general will hone in sometime during the day to watch the road race at the Beijing Olympics. Truth is, that the course is one of the toughest in recent 'games' and it will take a supreme effort for Philip Deignan from Letterkenny and Nicholas Roche to better the performance of Ciaran Power who finished in the top 20 at the last 'games.'
Without doubt, the roads for the road race will not be for the faint hearted! But the competitors will be up to the challenge. The course features all those sights that are familiar to people all over the world including the 'Great Wall.' To say it is undulating would be tempting faith and the distance of 248.5km will be a factor when you take in conditions of humidity which by all accounts from afar is to say the least stifling.
The event sets out from one of the best, if not the best known 'squares' in the world, Tiananmen Square. Initially 145 competitors were to have started, but in the last number of days there has been withdrawals. If the humidity was not a factor the 11km climb that has been to be negotiated seven times will surely tell a tale. In essence the climb Will be like a hurdy gurdy at a fun fare, no sooner have you made a descent, but you'll be back again to face it with little or no time for recovery.
As for a winner? I would look no further than the defending Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini from Italy. But that's not to say that the Spanish will have a say with the Carlos Sastre the recent Tour de France winner. After all! In the last couple of months, the Spanish have been successful at a number of big sporting occasions. Then of course we have Fränk Schleck from Luxembourg (paid his first visit to the Failte Ireland 'Tour' last year) to get amongst the medals.
As for Nicholas and Philip, it is important that they perform well on the big stage and this column has no doubts that they will. And? Who's not to say that with a rub of the green that they will do Ireland proud.
Also it would remiss of me not to mention the best of luck to the Irish delegation of David McQuaid, Ciaran McKenna, Pat Dowd and Ritchie McNamara who are all working on the road race.
But from Beijing to more familiar territory and weather conditions! It looks as though the good wine has been left for the tail end of this season with the number of events that are listed over the next couple of weeks!
But, unfortunately there is a down turn with events being cancelled because of circumstances beyond their control. The big casualty for this weekend is the Swords McNally GP which was scheduled to take place at Ballyboughal, but road improvements in the area have scuppered the programme.
ASHFORD GP — Underage Cycling Races
Bray Wheelers are hosting the Ashford GP, open to all underage categories, U12s, U14s and U16s for both boys and girls. It's on Saturday with the start time of 11am.
Sign on, in the Holy Rosary National School, Ashford, Co. Wicklow, off the N11, from 9.30am closing at 10.30am. The circuit will be the same as last year, an undulating 5km circuit around the Cullenmore bends/N11 in Ashford.
(This event was postponed from earlier in the year due to clashing with the national youth champs)
Contact Mark Loughran on 086 822 5310 for more information.
NORTHERN EVENTS
Still, the likes of Sean Lacey (EurocyclesEuroBaby) Miceal Concannon (Killorglin CC), Paul Griffin (Giant Asia), Stephen O'Sullivan (MyHome.ie/BDBC) all with strong affiliations to the 'Kingdom' of Kerry will be keen to get competition if there ambitions of representing Ireland in the Tour of Ireland are to be fulfilled.
And this is where the Clann Eireann/Lime Green get into the big picture with their twin promotions this Friday and Saturday. If the blurb for the event is anything to go by, they'll promote two of the best events on the Ulster cycling calendar. By gingo, it would take a brave soul to deny them their piece of publicity. 'Think big! And you'll always and vice versa for small!'
LURGAN CRITERIUM
The first event the Lurgan Criterium goes to post tomorrow (Friday) at 7 o'clock in the evening. The streets of Lurgan will hum to sound of bikes racing around a very unique circuit. By all accounts, it is a superb course. It has everything that will show off the style of a cyclist who has the ability to manoeuvre around twisting bends and get a respite on the long straights (if he is lucky).
This is a completely closed circuit and is a great circuit for the underage to have a go even if it is their first race. The organisers would remind all riders that when any race is in progress they are not permitted to warm-up on the circuit.
All categories will be catered for; including a novice race and Sign-on for all categories will be from 6.00pm.
The senior race will be restricted to 40 competitors (first come first entry basis)
WEST DOWN GP
On Saturday the 65 km West Down GP in Katesbridge caters for S3, V, J, The race starts at 11:00am and Sign-On from 10:00am at the Orange Hall, Katesbridge.
TOUR OF ARMAGH (ENTRIES CLOSED)
The Clann Eireann/Linen Green Classic Mineral Water Tour of Armagh has now reached full capacity with all 80 places taken and entries now closed. The race promises to be one of the most hotly contested in years with riders from all four provinces in attendance.
There will be Prizes for King of Hills and first 10 finishers and also for each category decided by finish judges.
The race starts at 12.00 noon from the Craigavon Water Sports Centre where there will be changing facilities with sign on open from 11am. Tea and Sandwiches will be provided at the post race presentation in Craigavon Watersports Centre
The circuit takes in Portadown, Armagh and then on to the first King of the hills at Lisnadill, then onto the infamous Keady Mountain before heading back to Armagh and through Portadown with the finish at Craigavon Lakes.
BALLINROBE 2 DAY
Over in the West of Ireland, traditionally a great spot for racing and all things associated with the bike. So! No doubt the lyras will be in abundance in Ballinrobe this weekend for the Marreybikes.com Ballinrobe two day who have pt their money where their mouth is by sponsoring the event which along with other promotions in the 'West' have been growing in stature. The promoters of the event Western Lakes CC would like to acknowledge Sweeney Oil under the name of Castlebar Oil major fuels who sponsored the event for the past 3 years.
They have moved on because of a restructuring within the company and this will take an amount of time.
Marrey bikes situated on Watson Lane Ballinrobe have a close affection with the race as both brothers are involved in the organising of the event, also there is a perpetual trophy in memory of their mother for the overall winner which moved the boys in the direction of keeping the event on the road.
You have to realise that this event is growing and it will give the people of South mayo and North Galway to possibly see stars in the making.
After all, one of their own from Cong is in Beijing for the Olympic Games, David O'Loughlin.
The two days of racing make up the annual Ballinrobe two-day road race which attracts cyclists from all over Ireland. Only yesterday the event got a significant boast with the announcement that a six man from Melbourne CC will be on the start line.
“This will be a huge event with up to 120 riders, and in the past locals have been able to enjoy some great racing in the region,” said a spokesperson for organisers Western Lakes CC.
The routes for the two days are as follows:
Saturday, August 9th:
Stage 1, 3pm, starting at Finlay’s Filling Station, Ballinrobe – Partry – Srah – Tourmakeady – Maire Luke’s – Killateeaun – Maamtrasna – Finney – Clonbur – Ballykyne – Dringeen – Cahernagower Bridge, and onto The Neale crossroads. The race will then cover two laps of a circuit taking them from The Neale crossroads to Ballymartin, into Ballinrobe, and around again.
Sunday, August 10th:
Stage 2A, 9am, starting at Kilmaine Community Grounds – 8km time trial to Ballinrobe.
Stage 2B, 1pm, starting at Finlay’s Filling Station, Ballinrobe – Partry – Ballintubber – Ballyheane – Castlebar – Milebush – Belcarra – Ballyglass – Ballygarris – Ballinrobe, followed by five laps of the Carnalecka Circuit (Ballinrobe-Cloongowla-Liskillen-Ballinrobe.)
Western Lakes CC would like to apologise for any inconvenience which may be caused to traffic, and they have assured motorists that delays will be kept to a minimum through the deployment of efficient marshalling.
“In the interests of safety of cyclists, motorists and all road-users, we would ask all road-users to comply with any requests made by the marshalls.
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LEISURE EVENTS
Reminder that this Sunday (10 August 2008) Dromara Cycling Club are organising 4 leisure tours on the same day. We have the legendary Mourne Sportive [169 km, 105 miles] and 3 'Hilly' tours including the famous 'Hilly 125' (125 km, 78 miles), the 'Hilly 85' (85 km, 53 miles) and the easier 'Hilly 65' (65 km, 40 miles).
The Mourne Sportive is pre-entry only (before Wednesday 6 August 2008) and includes 2 tea-stops. Fee: £20 *
The 3 Hilly tours are NOT pre-entry. Simply show up and sign on, on the day. They all share the same tea stop in Leitrim, Co. Down. Fee £15 *
(* The fees above are for those who hold a current Cycling Ireland or CTC licence. For everyone else there is a £2 fee for 3rd party insurance or Cycling Ireland one-day licences are available on the day which include personal accident cover.)
For more details please see our calendar
The Martin Earley, Tour of Kildare takes place this Sunday 10th it starts at the Naas Court Hotel, Naas Caters for all 100+50+20 km 10am Contact Ann Marie Keenaghan 0872224920 annmariekeenagh@eircom.net
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MTB EVENTS
The final round of the 2008 Irish Mountain Bike Cross Country Series will take place on Sunday 17th August at Castlewellan Forest Park, County Down. This will be round six of the series with a riders five best rounds counting towards the final points table.
Promoted by Banbridge CC, the course will be in part similar to the circuit as used for the final round of the 2008 K-Capital Cup. For the NPS event the course will feature a number of new sections, including a new finish area. Car parking will be in the normal location, with an overflow car park also available. A course map and further details will be made available this weekend.
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IMPORTANT: All articles,
quotes and results which appear on this page are strictly © Copyright
2008 Tommy Campbell,
IrishCycling.com.
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