Thankfully, the weather has abated for both Greg May and Danny Curtin who will be at the cutting edge this weekend. We also continue with our predictions which caused a lot of talk about the year ahead recently. Also the European cycling season got under way in France last weekend and the curtain came down on the cyclo cross season with the world championships in the Czech Republic last Sunday. Greg is confident this time around that the Irish Cross Championships goes ahead on Sunday. Prior to that on Saturday, Dan Curtin will be directing operation the High performance Squads in one of the country's tidiest towns, Westport, Co. Mayo, where the staff of the Clew Bay are anxiously awaiting their arrival for two days of intensive action.
Interesting set of predictions from a man west of the Shannon.
- Valverde will get his just punishment - Worldwide.
- There will still more high profile doper exposed.
- Sky will be a major force but Wiggins will struggle to crack the top of the Tour again.
- Cavendish will win the Green Jersey, but not the Worlds.
- Contador will win his 3rd Tour.
- Roche will win a great stage
- Deignan will impress with his climbing and team riding.
- Martin will show some brilliance but will also show inconsistency
- Whilst Irish cycling is looking for quality cyclists, one that escaped through the net is Gavin Mannion who could get a will podium place at eight the US National U23 RR or Criterium Championships. (exiled).
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Cycling Ireland Development Training Camp
Dan Curtin from the town of Kanturk certainly has the bit between his teeth as he heads towards the West tomorrow evening. There he'll link up with Joe McGuire of Mayo Wheelers in Westport. 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. Clew Bay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo is the base where all the discussions will take place along with three road sessions, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Accommodation: Two nights B+B and Dinner. Cost: €70. Registration: By email to dan_curtin@oceanfree.net.
"The turn out for the first session in Charleville last month was 54 but we are just short of doubling that figure for the Mayo session. I'll be able to put in place three teams for the weekend of Easter racing, Gorey, Tour of the North and the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan," said Dan.
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Irish Cyclo Cross Championships
Last Sunday in the Czech Republic, Zdenek Stybar the Czech came good for the home crowd winning the World cyclo Cross Championships in front of an ecstatic crowd. But it was also a good day for Roger Aiken a double winner of the Irish Championships in recent years. Roger finished 53rd and has to be regarded as the fav for the Irish champs on Sunday in Raheny. It will be based in St Anne's Park Raheny and organised by Dublin City University Cycling Club. Course will be open from 11am, sign on is from 10:30am. (The Park, the second largest municipal park in Dublin, is part of a former 500 acre estate assembled by members of the Guinness family, beginning with Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1835). But on the 10th of January will see fast racing to decide who will become the National Champion of Ireland.
Last week I spoke with chief commissarie for the day, Ian Gallagher, "To be perfect honest it is an ideal course. It has a bit of everything, steps and run-ups are the order of the day with fast linking stages in-between. This course is not for the faint hearted and it sure to make the competitors know that they are not here just to ride around," said Ian.
According to the race organiser, Greg May, ''following on from last year’s race this course is sure to provide close matched bunch racing and more than enough speed to blow off the excess pounds. Race details: Underage - 12pm (non championship race). All other categories - 1pm (Senior men, women, veterans, juniors) Note: in the case that there are not enough riders to validate a national championship being held, riders will compete within Please note cyclists are not to enter the sign on area wearing cycling shoes. Parking is located at two places within the grounds of the park. The Red Stables car-park on Mount Prospect Avenue, and the coastal car-park on James Larkin Road. Entry Criteria - There has been some recent discussion about licence requirements for this race. We would like to assure riders that both 2009 and 2010 licences will be accepted at sign-on. You can see the full entry requirements here. Online Sign-On - An Online Sign-On form for the event is now available. We encourage all participating riders to pre-register for the event here. Please enter your details and pay your entry fee on the day. This will greatly speed-up sign on before the race. (Online Registration Form fs17.formsite.com) Short Track XC - In addition to the championship race there will also be a Short Track XC race earlier in the day. This race will be on a modified course (no dismounts required!) providing an exciting race for riders and spectators alike. It will be suitable for mountainbikers of all abilities, and cyclocross riders who do not qualify for the Championship event are also welcome to enter.
In the absence of Robin Seymour and a large number of participants from North of the Border, it is generally accepted that the title is destined for Ulster.
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BLARNEY CYCLING CLUB MEMORIAL SPORTIVE
Blarney Cycling Club have been forced to reschedule the annual Memorial Sportive again due to the weather conditions and poor road conditions. The rescheduled date is 7th Feb 2010 - 72km Sportive Cycle Route: Blarney – Inishcarra – Coachford – Macroom – Farnanes - Ballincollig – Cloghroe – Tower – Blarney. Sign On: 9.30 – 10.30 Blarney GAA Club Departure 10.45, All Welcome, Refreshments After - Contacts: Martin O’Shea 086-4099907, Anthony Collins 087-2385295
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EASTER STAGE RACE EVENTS ENTRIES
GOREY 3 DAY: Entries are now open for the 2010 Gorey 3 Day. The event will take place over Easter Weekend 3rd - 5th April. The event is open to A2/A3 riders ONLY and is restricted to a maximum of 180 riders.
The Cycling Ireland Road Commission have informed us that the categories riders were advised of were advisory categories. Anybody can still apply for a licence above the recommendation but licences below the recommendation will require representation to the National Grading Officer.
No entry will be taken without the application form and appropriate fee. Entry forms can be downloaded from the calendar on this website
TOUR OF THE NORTH: Entries open for Easter International
Entries have gone on release for the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North International stage race in Ulster which takes place over the Easter weekend, now just over eight weeks away.
The 4-day event will get underway from its traditional starting point in Belfast at Stormont on Good Friday evening, April 2nd, and will be followed by 75 mile stages on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Castlereagh, Limavady and Ballymena respectively.
Interest has already strong from overseas, with teams from Belgium, Holland and Germany expected in the 100 rider field. Last years winner, local man Martyn Irvine is expected to return to defend his title, as is three time winner Ryan Connor from Ballymena who has won the event in 2004, 2006 & 2008.
With 2010 being Commonwealth Games year, Ulster riders will be on top form for the Tour in the hope of catching the selectors eye in the run up to Delhi in October.
Entries will be limited to teams of 5, with no first year Junior riders or Cat 4s allowed. Entry forms can be downloaded from the calendar on this website.
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IVCA NEWS
Race Program 2010. By Phil Ormrod - Race Committee
The Racing Committee are pleased to announce the program of events for 2010. The season starts on March 21st with the usual 50 in 4 followed by a 60Km DMS in Warrenstown on Sunday March 28th.
Considerable debate has taken place regarding the re-inclusion in the Midweek League of DMS races.
The 2009 Race Committee took a difficult decision to exclude mass start races from the midweek league on the grounds of safety in view of traffic volumes and repeated close calls caused by reckless riding. It is thought that the revised road layouts in the Batterstown area may make for a safer DMS circuit and in the light of this have decided to hold a small number, 4, of DMS races this season. The first will be the opening event of the midweek league on May 11th. A review will take place in the light of the experience of this race. Apart from the safety aspects of the circuit serious consideration will be given to rider discipline.
It is the intention of the committee that strict adherence to the rules of the road and safety considerations will be enforced. It is hoped to introduce following commissaires to monitor safety. Needless to say the safety aspects mentioned will apply to Sunday races also.
Precise details will be announced closer to the start of the racing season.
Chatting with Paddy Fitzsimons yesterday about the 'Wicklow 200'. "Despite the inclement conditions at the beginning of the year, entries are well up on this time last year. In the next few weeks, I'll be doing a reckie to see how the roads survived the snow and the ice. It is no good waiting until later in the year to see how they fared. At least we will be able to get in touch with the various bodies to sort out the roads if the need is there. "The committee are hoping that we'll up the number of participants this year," said Paddy.
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Earl of Desmond Hotel Continues Sponsorship
News from the Tralee area or to be precise, the Earl of Desmond Hotel will be sponsoring again, yes again the Lacey Cup on the last Sunday of the month, the 28th of February. Yesterday, I spoke with Matt Lacey about the upcoming event. "We are dusting ourselves down for the 'Cup' which is always the pipe opener for the Irish cycling season. He also asked me to look at a site about the event which he said would enlighten me, if I needed to get a blast from the past. Of course Paul Griffin will be our anchor man and according to Matt, he is intent on going one place better in the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan which is scheduled for the Easter weekend, starting on Good Friday," said Matt as he ascended the ladder to get on with the day job, painting and decorating.
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Carrigdhoun Cycling Club
The newly formed cycling club is looking for members. The club aims to cater for the touring cyclist as well as the young cyclist, with a view to becoming the next Lance Armstrong!
Club Members meet weekly at the Roundabout in front of the Carrigaline Court Hotel every Sunday Morning at 08.30am.
The distances cycled will cater for all abilities. Both Leisure and Advance groups return to Carrigaline circa mid day. 30 km and 60 Km Routes.
For additional Information Contact Conor on 087 7937338. of Email Carrigdhoun CC@gmail.com
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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.
