Well, it was great to see the ProTour season coming out of the blocks in sunny Australia last week with the Santos Tour Down Under. Andre Greipel notched his second overall win in the event. He was also the outright winner in 2008. But, on this occasion he did it in style winning three out of the Tour's six stages. Unfortunately we had no Irish interest in the event this time around. As for our three professionals, Daniel Martin, Nicholas Roche and Philip Deignan, they have attended their respective training camps.
First things first. Chatting with Ian Gallagher in one of the most distinguished buildings on the Liffey last Tuesday. Ian of course is recognised as one of the country's leading commissaries. He takes charge of the first Irish Championships, the Cyclo-Cross Irish Championships which takes place on Sunday week.
Cycling Ireland and the College of Commissaires have confirmed that both 2009 and 2010 licences will be acceptable for this event.
He pointed out that no one day licences for championships will be accepted. Ian is the man the golden glove and he wants participants to have the licence or else! You'll be watching from the sidelines.
And whilst on the subject of individuals, my good friend Joe McGuire was pictured in the 'Mayo News' passing over to six large hampers to the St. Vincent de Paul organisation. They do tremendous work on behalf of communities all around the Ireland and they can thank the man above for the icy conditions that prevented the Hamper Extravaganza going ahead on the 28th of December.
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More of the predictions for the year ahead-
I think we will see our ProTour riders, Philip Deignan, Nicholas Roche, and Dan Martin continuing to make a name for themselves and Irish cycling on the continent in 2010. There is a good possibility these three could all be riding the Tour de France this year, with good performances this could be the catalyst for an Irish public interest in cycling not seen since the Kelly Roche era.
Internationally, 2010 is also a Commonwealth Games year and the big hope there will be that David McCann can win a medal in a major time trial competition after missing out narrowly in Melbourne in 2006 when he finished fifth.
This year will be a big step towards London 2012 as well so it will be an important year for the Cycling Ireland High Performance Programme and the riders emerging within it.
Domestically the new category changes are the biggest overhaul road racing has seen in a long time, and could be the big talking point at least for the early part of the year as race organisers and riders adjust. It will be interesting to see what effect they have on the racing scene this year, hopefully it will meet the objectives of the Road Commission and lead to more competitive racing for everyone, with people being judged purely on ability and performance rather than on age or gender. (Ulster in the mix).
Lance's friend Predicts
i) All three Irish PT riders, if injury-free, will be selected to ride in the Tour de France. 1991 was a year when four Irishmen started the Tour, and Laurence Roche was the only one to finish!
ii) Dan Martin to win a stage race overall this year. His body will settle into the tempo of pro racing and he will be less likely to be plagued by illness.
iii) Deignan wins another GT stage out of a breakaway and podium finish in non-GT stage race. His position in Cervelo will be enhanced by a solid season, given his boost in self confidence the 2009 Vuelta gave him.
iv) Nicolas Roche will figure out this year if he is a climber that can sprint or a sprinter that can climb. Along the way, he will have multiple victories this year and be one of AG2R's main aggressors in 2010.
v) Lance Armstrong will go very close to or maybe even win the Tour de France. The cobbled sections in the first week will not win the Tour for any rider, but they will end some rider's chances. Lance will enter the cobbled sections on the wheel of local man Gert Steegmans and stay out of trouble.
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LEISURE CYCLING
This weekend, finally three charity spins originally schedule for late December will finally go on the road. it would not surprise me that a number of individuals who have ambitions of racing will be testing the mettle in one or other of these events.
Charity Cycle
102 Mile Charity Cycle in aid of the 24 Hour Suicide awareness and prevention centre, Francis street, Wexford. The cycle can be done as the full 102 miles or broken down into different sections for shorter distances. Please email Eddie Reddy on the below for details alternatively you can contact me on 085 1327301. The cycle is in memory of Sharon Grace and her two daughters Abby and Michaela who tragically lost there lives to suicide 4 years ago. In association with Console, we are organizing this event and All money raised will go directly to the 24 hour centre. This lifesaving service cant open due to lack of funding. The centre will operate all day every day and provide a lifesaving suicide prevention and bereavement service. As well as a full time phone and drop in service. and as Sharon went looking for help and was turned away I think its important the next time someone looks for help its there who knows Sharon might be here today if this service had been there for her. We hope to raise as much money as possible and any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this here is a link to a Facebook page set up for the event and online donations can be made from the link sharongracememorial@live.ie / www.facebook.com/Sharon-Grace-Memorial-Cycle Event immediately afterwards in Mary Jo's Barntown Wexford
On Your Bike 2010
Galway Bay Cycling Club Secretary. On Your Bike 2010 - Sunday January 31st! Get your cycling year off to a good start with a 100k cycle from Kilcoran, Clarinbridge to Carron and back through the Burren. Sunday January 31st 2010 Sign On 08:30-09:45 departing 10AM sharp. Shower facilities and refreshments supplied. Route: Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Kinvara, Corker Hill, Bell Harbour, Ballyvaughan, Ailwee Caves Hill, Carron, Bell Harbour, Kinvarra, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge. Registration Fee €25 For booking or further information contact Brendan Sheehan 087 2862868 or Nigel Forde at Nigel's Cycles 087 628 7874 or have a look on www.galwaybaycycling.com
Barrow Wheelers Sporting 100
The Barrow wheelers are holding their second annual Sporting 100 this coming Sunday, 31st January 2010. This is a 100km event which makes it's way through Co. Wexford, starting in New Ross and tracing a route through the foothills of the Blackstairs before making it's way to the Wexford coastline and the Barrow estuary, and then back the Barrow valley to New Ross. The event starts at 10 am sharp with sign on from 9am at Geraldine O' Hanrahans GAA club at Mountgarret New Ross. Refreshments and showers available afterwards at clubhouse. Entry fee is €10 (one day CI membership for €10 available on day for non CI members).
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CI Development Camp
DEVELOPMENT CAMP - Road Commission Squads Announcement: The Track, Women’s and Road Commissions are charged by Cycling Ireland to assist the High Performance Director in the identification and preparation of riders that may become the next members of the High Performance Squad. To ensure the maximum opportunity for every rider to present themselves the Commissions scheduled two training and evaluation camps for the winter period. The first camp was held in Charleville in early December. The second and final camp will be held on the weekend of the 6th & 7th February in Westport. This second and final camp will help identify the riders from which the riders that may make up the following squads. the Junior Road Squad (male and female), the Junior Track Squad, (male and female), the Junior Development Road Squad (male and female),, the Junior Development Track Squad, (male and female), the male Development Road Squad for riders under 25 years of age, the male Development Track Squad for riders under 25 years of age, the female Development Road Squad for riders under 27 years of age, the female Development Track Squad for riders under 27 years of age. The following are the details of the second and final training and evaluation camp. Date: 6th & 7th February 2010 Location : Clew Bay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo. Accommodation: Two nights B+B and Dinner. Cost: €70. Registration: By email to dan_curtin@oceanfree.net by the 15th January 2010
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SEND US YOUR EVENT INFORMATION FOR 2010
Clubs and race organisers can send their event information in text format to us here in IrishCycling.com (see our 'Contact Us' for relevant email addresses) If we don't get it, it won't be posted.
Also over the next few months we are looking for cycling clubs who are open to take on new members. Please send us your club run details and we will include them on our fixtures calendar. Email us at: events2010@irishcycling.com
Please include
1. Event Date and Start Time:
2. Type of Event and distance:
3. Venue Details including Sign-On location:
4. Categories catered for:
5. Contact details - phone number / email address (we don't allow links to websites on article pages but do include them in our online calendar)
6. Entry Forms - you can send us pre-race entry forms and we will include a download link on our online calendar.
