Cycling Reports |
McCann’s baptism in GreeceBy Gerry McManusEmail: gerrymcmanus@yahoo.comProfessional David McCann (Volksbank – Ideal) will have his first outing in his new team colours in the International Tour of Greece April 22 to 28. With a slow start to the year with a minor knee injury and chest and throat infections, McCann came through the recent Tour of Majorca managing to stay with the leaders on the climbs and had confidence enough to get into some of the early race moves. He flew out to join the new third division Austrian team on Wednesday 17th April hoping that the team would have a bike for him to use immediately following the theft of his on the eve prior to the Majorca prologue. “I managed to borrow a Trek bike for the race,” he said: “but it didn’t help having to spend an hour in the police station before the race started.” McCann’s UCI points will be a boost to the squad but the team is already having success in their race program with 23-year-old Fraser McMaster from New Zealand winning a 1:3 ranked event. McCann made the decision to stay in Europe to race: “I had offers from people I know in the United States and there is probably more money there but I’d decided to stick with Europe if I could. I raced in the States before with friends in stage races in Arizona and California early season and they helped to set me up in the year I rode the Olympics.” He has expressed great interest in the team receiving an invitation to ride this year’s Milk Rás.
Photo courtesy manager Thomas Koffler
Pictures Copyright Gerry McManus 2002 |
