March 2000

Shane Baker wins in Batterstown: (Mar 25th), Usher IRC rider Shane Baker who rode extremely well in the Jim McQuaid last Sunday got some reward today when he won the 2nd round of the LCF League in Batterstown.  Over 100 riders started the race, Baker won on his own from a breakaway group, Aidan Crowley just piped Alan McCormack for second   See pictures here >>  Leinster League Standings >>

DES HANLON MEMORIAL, Carlow (Mar 26th) 1 Eddie O'Donoghue Carrick Cidona, 2 Philip Cassidy Navan Avonmore, 3 Brian Kenneally Carrick Cidona, 4 Paddy Moriarty Dublin Skip, 5 Brian Quinn O'Meara Limerick, 6 Martin O'Loughlin Carrick Cidona. 1st 'B' Michael Mulcahy Dan Morrissey, 1st Jnr Michael Dennehy Kanturk CU, 1st Vet Seamus Haughney Carlow Whlrs, 1st Lady Lorraine Manning unattached.

Power 6th in Italy - Another excellent day for the Linda McCartney Foods Cycling Team in the Settimana International in Italy. Ciarán Power took a superb 6th on the stage to Ferrara, whilst Olympic Champion Pascal Richard moved even closer to the lead.  It was a less eventful day generally, which will probably come as a relief to many of the team's followers after Ben Brooks and Matt Stephens crashed yesterday. Ben has now been declared well enough to fly back to the HQ in Toulouse tonight, whilst Matt overcame some early doubt about pain in his knee to finish comfortably in the bunch. MORE >>

McNena 12th on final stage of Vuelta Ciclista de Chile - Stage 10 - April 2: Providencia circuit race, 69.9 km - Results: 1 Victor Garrido (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 1H26m37s, 2 Roberto Lochowski (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg, 3 Angel Perez (Chi) Ekono - Go! Zuko, 12 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm (all same time) Final GC: 1 Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 35H14m51s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 14", 3 Jose Medina (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 47", 4 Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm @ 1'04", 5 Cristian Lademan (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg @ 1'14", 57 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 38'54".
Stage 9 - April 1: Curicó, Santiago , 190.9 km Results 1 Cristian Lademan (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg @ 4H25m13s, 2 Antonio Cabrera (Chi) Chile - España San Fernando @ same, 3 Antonio Villatoro (USA) 7 Up Colorado Cyclist @ same, 77 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 1'33", Overall GC: 1 Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 33H48m14s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 14", 3 Jose Medina (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 47", 4 Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm @ 1'04", 5 Cristian Lademan (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg @ 1'14", 57 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 38'54". 
McNena  27th Overall in Vuelta Ciclista de Chile - Stage 8 - March 31: Quirihue-Curicó, 213.2 km Results: 1. Cristian Lademan (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg @ 4H49m19s, 2. Steve Speaks (USA) 7 Up Colorado Cyclist @ same, 3. Lisandro Cruel (Arg) Crush Entre Rios @ same, 84. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 25'32". Overall GC: 1. Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 29H22m50s, 2. Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 14", 3. Jose Medina (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 47", 57. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 37'32".
Stage 7a - March 30: San Fernando-Talca, 110 km Results; 1 Jose Maneiro (Arg) Crush Entre Rios @ 2H26m22s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ same 3 Cristian Lademan (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg @ same, 7 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ same. Overall GC: 1 Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm @ 24H08m40s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 8", 3 Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 29", 33 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 7'55".
Stage 7b - March 30: Chillán, ITT, 20 km Results; 1 Steve Speaks (USA) 7 Up Colorado Cyclist @ 23'54", 2 Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 7", 3 Antonio Villatoro (USA) 7 Up Colorado Cyclist @ 9", 68 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 5'02" Overall GC: 1 Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek 24H33m17s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 15" 3 Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 26", 35 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 12'14".
Stage 6 - March 29: Cauquenes-Penco, 140.5 km - Results; 1 Enzo Cesario (Chi) Ekono - Go! Zuko @ 3H28m41s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ same, 3 Jose Maneiro (Arg) Crush Entre Rios @ same, 4 Gonzalo Garrido (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ same, 5 Victor Garrido (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ same, 69 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 4'26" Overall GC: 1 Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm @ 18H13m37s, 2 Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 22", 3 Sven Harms (Chi) Rabié Omo - Chillan @ 25", 4 Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 29", 5 Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 36", 40 Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 7'55" 
Stage 5 - March 28: San Fernando-Talca, 164.9 km  Results - 1. Angel Perez (Chi) Ekono - Go! Zuko @ 3Hr55m20s, 2. Victor Garrido (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ same,3. Arturo Corvalan (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ same, 4. Enzo Cesario (Chi) Ekono - Go! Zuko @ same, 5. Daniele Della Tommasina (Ita) Sintofarm @ same, 72. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ same. Overall GC: 1. Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm @ 18Hr13m37s, 2. Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 22", 3. Sven Harms (Chi) Rabié Omo - Chillan @ 25", 4. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 29", 5. Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 36", 27. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 3.29
Stage 4 - March 27: San Antonio-Los Maitenes, 196.4 km Results - 1. Israel Ochoa (Col) Aguardiente Nectar 5Hr31m29s, 2. Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 4", 3. Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 4", 4. Cassio Paiva (Bra) Caloi @ 4", 5. Arquimedes Lam (Mex) Mexico @ 4", 35. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 3'02" Overall GC: 1. Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm 14Hr18m17s, 2. Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó @ 22", 3. Sven Harms (Chi) Rabié Omo - Chillan @ 25", 4. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 29", 5. Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ 36" 27. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 3'29"
Stage 3 - Mar 26th: Vina del Mar-El Tabo, 141.6 km Results - 1. Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm 3Hr20m56s, 2. Luis F Sepulveda (Chi) Publiguías - Trek @ same 3. Enzo Cesario (Chi) Ekono - Go! Zuko @ 13 sec, 4. Cristian Lademan (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg @ 13 sec, 5. Daniele Della Tommasina (Ita) Sintofarm @ 13 sec, 6. Angel Perez (Chi) Ekono - Go! Zuko @ 13 sec, 37. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm @ 13 sec. Overall GC - 1. Andriss Reiss (Lat) Sintofarm 8Hr46m44s, 2. Sven Harms (Chi) Rabié Omo - Chillan 25 sec, 3. Richard Rodriguez (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó 28 sec, 4. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías - Trek 29 sec, 5. Michael McNena (Irl) Sintofarm 31 sec. 
McNena 5th Overall in Chile - (UCI Cat 2.5) - Stage 2 - March 25: Los Andes-Viña del Mar, 133.6 km. Results - 1. Arturo Corvalan (Chi) Union Ciclista Curicó 3.01.34, 2. Angel Perez (Chi) Ekonom - Go! Zuko, 3. Daniele Della Tommasina (Ita) Sintofarm, 4. Roberto Lochowski (Ger) Agro Adler Brandenburg, 5. Jose Maneiro (Arg) Crush Entre Rios, 13. Michael Mc. Nena (Irl) Sintofarm Same Time.
McNena 2nd in Stage 1, (Mar 23-April 2) Stage 1 - Mar 24: Santiago-Los Andes, 109.9 km - Report: Italian dominates: The Italian team Sintofarm dominated the first stage of Vuelta Ciclista de Chile with Andriss Reiss taking the stage and also taking over the leaders jersey.  Results - 1. Andriss Reiss (Ita) Sintofarm 2.19.41, 2. Michael Mc Nena (Ita) Sintofarm @ 6", 3. Richard Rodríguez (Chi) Unión Ciclista Curicó @ 6", 4. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías Trek.  King of the mountains:  1. Juan Cabrera (Chi) Ekono Go! Zuko, Sprints: 1 José Medina (Chi) Unión Ciclista Curicó. General clasificacion: 1. Andriss Reiss (Ita) Sintofarm 2.24.25, 2. Harms Sven (Chi) Chillán Chile 0.01, 3. Richard Rodríguez (Chi) Curicó Chile 0.05, 4. Marco Arriagada (Chi) Publiguías Chile 0.10, 5. Michael McNena (Ita) Sintofarm 0.30.

Scanlon and Power show early season promise: (by Shane Stokes in the Irish Times Mar 24th): It may be seven months to the Sydney games but some of the candidates for the two Olympic slots available are already showing promising form at this early stage of the season.  MORE >>

Olympics: One in two face unannounced doping tests (Irish Times Mar 23rd) One of every two athletes will have had an unannounced out-of-competition test before they arrive in Sydney for the 2000 Olympics, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said today.  MORE >>

Pantani Takes a Break : (The Irish Times Mar 21st) Marco Pantani could be out of this year's Giro D'Italia after announcing plans to take an indefinite break from cycling. Pantani - kicked out of the 1999 Giro within a hair's breadth of victory after failing a blood test - said in an emotional open letter that he needed "a break which at the present moment I cannot quantify".  MORE >>

Chiappucci Retires: Mar 20th Veteran Italian rider Claudio Chiappucci, nicknamed "El Diablo" (the Devil), bowed out of competitive cycling on Sunday after a 15-year career.  "I'm very moved to see so many friends here for me," Chiappucci said in Varese, north of Milan, where a final race was held in his honor.  Chiappucci, 37, said he was not bidding farewell to cycling completely.  "I already have some plans, in particular in Spain, for some courses I will be running to teach young riders how to race.  "In the future, I would also like to have my own team, but there will be time for that later. We'll see."

CASSIDY WINS JIM McQUAID MEMORIAL, (Phoenix Park Mar 19th), 1 Philip Cassidy Navan Avonmore, 2 Colm Bracken Usher IRC, 3 Les McKay VCP Laurent, 4 Shane Baker Usher IRC, 5 Sean Bracken Usher IRC, 6 Brian Lennon St Tiernans, 1st 'B' Willie Byrne Dan Morrissey See pictures here  Colm Boyd Memorial Junior Race - 1 Tim Ahern Bray Whlrs, 2 Cian Ryan Bray Whrls, 3 Noor Nassan Usher IRC, 4 Noel Maloney Ravens, Ladies 1 Lorraine Manning 2 Rachel O'Hara Dublin Whlrs, Veteran 1st Karl Gallagher Garda CC

In-form Power shows the way (by Shane Stokes in the Irish Times Mar 17th): Late last season, Ciarán Power considered his then fruitless search for a professional contract and, in a few words, articulated his frustration.  MORE >>

Scanlon Wins Stage One of Boissy-le-Cuté - 138,7 km Mar 17th: 1 Mark Scanlon (Irl) CC Etupes, 2 Loïc Herbreteau (Fra) 23 La Creuse, 3 Sébastien Saint Germain (Fra) EC St Etienne Loire, 4 Stéphane Rabany (Fra) Charvieu-Chavagneux IC, 5 Julien Thollet (Fra) EC St Etienne Loire.

Colm Bracken wins Dublin - Drogheda - See pictures here

Ciaran Power 11th in the final stage (Mar 15th) of the prestigious Tirreno Adriatico race, the best result of his professional career to date.  The 23 year old finished ahead of a host of cycling's top riders, with world champion Oscar Freire behind Power on the stage.  Abraham Olano of Spain was the overall winner of the event with Power back in a respectable 72nd place.  Results - 1. Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola 4.34.52 (35.581 km/h), 2. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco-Valli&Valli, 3. Lars Michaelsen (Den) Francaise des Jeux, 4. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom, 5. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) Team Polti, 6. Markus Zberg (Swi) Rabobank, 7. Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Fassa Bortolo, 8. KAndreas Klier (Ger) Farm Frites, 9. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole, 10. Robert Hunter (RSA) Lampre-Daikin, 11. Ciaran Power (Irl) Linda McCartney Racing Team, 12. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Amica Chips-Tacconi Sport.   Final GC: 1. Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank 33.17.36, 2. Jan Hruska (Cze) Vitalicio Seguros 0.10, 3. J. Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros  0.18.
John Deering's report - Ciaran Power brought a marvellous week for himself and the Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team to a close by rubbing shoulders with Mario Cipollini in the closing bunch sprint finishing 11th.  MORE >>

COOMBES CONNOR MEMORIAL, Drogheda - 1 E O'Donoghue Carrick Cidona, 2 P Cassidy Navan, Avonmore, 3 M O'Loughlin Carrick Cidona, 4 B Lennon St Tiernan's, 5 B Keneally Carrick Cidona, 6 S Bracken Usher IRC,  Snr B K O'Sullivan Dublin Skip, Jnr C Murphy McKenna Fireplace, 1st Vet B Holmes Slane Cycles, 1st Lady L Manning u/a, U16 P O'Brien Kanturk CU, U14 B O'Connor Kanturk CU, U12 C Enright Aqua IRC  See pictures here

Duff Wins Lacs d'Armorique, 130 km (France Mar 12th) - 1. Aidan Duff (Irl) Nantes-44 3hr 5' 12",  2. Jean-Luc Campagnola (Fra) VC Pontivy, 3. Mickaël Raoul (Fra) CC Blavet, 4. Jean-François Bodennec (Fra) P. Plouvien, 5. Philippe Vaillant (Fra) EC Rennes.

Irish Team in the Tour of Egypt, Stage 1, 6.7km Prologue - 1 L Remigius Lat 8:51, 2 J Valach Suk 8:58, 3 J Sasa Yug 9:00, 4 D McCann Ire 9:06, 14 T Evans Ire 9:19, 22 E Moriarty Ire 9:28, 36 F McCauley Ire 9:37, 51 S O'Sullivan Ire 9:46, 76 K Gallagher Ire 10:05
Stage 2 - 1 L Remigius Lat 3:46:17, 2 R Mikos Yug +0:01, 3 H Slavomir Cze +0:44, 7 E Moriarty Ire +2:44, 10 D McCann Ire +2:44, 42 F McCauley Ire +15:35, 43 K Gallagher Ire +15:35, 57 S O'Sullivan Ire +17:37, 75 T Evans Ire +17:37.  Overall GC 1 L Remigijus Lat 3:55:08, 6 D McCann Ire +2:59, 15 E Moriarty Ire +3:21, 53 F McCauley Ire +15:21, 54 K Gallagher Ire +18:16, 55 T Evans Ire +18:37, 60 S O'Sullivan Ire +18:37.
Stage 3 - 1 S Lavremenko Tur 5:24:36, 2 D McCann Ire 0", 3 A Aug Fin + 6", 7 E Moriarty Ire + 6", 23 K Gallagher Ire + 6", 24 S O'Sullivan Ire + 6", 31 F McCauley Ire + 6", 80 T Evans Ire + 14' 27"  Overall GC 1 L Remigijus Lat 9:19:50, 5 D McCann Ire + 2' 53", 11 E Moriarty Ire + 3' 21", 41 F McCauley Ire + 15' 21", 43 K Gallagher Ire + 15' 49", 53 S O'Sullivan Ire + 18' 16", 61 T Evans Ire + 28' 26".
Stage 4 - 1 Wadachi Piotr Pol 4:23.24, 4 Eugene Moriarty Irl same, 31 Fergus McCauley Irl same, 63 Dave McCann Irl same, 65 Keith Gallagher Irl same, 71 Tommy Evans Irl 1.36, 80 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl 12.06 Overall GC 1 Leipeikis Remigijus Lat 13:43.07, 4 Dave McCann Irl 2.53, 10 Eugene Moriarty Irl 3.21, 39 Fergus McCauley Irl 15.21, 41 Keith Gallagher Irl 15.49, 57 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl 30.22, 64 Tommy Evans Irl 33.22.
Stage 5 - 1 Wadachi Piotr Pol 4:13.26, 2 Dave McCann Irl same, 27 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl +11.33, 28 Eugene Moriarty Irl same, 31 Tommy Evans Irl same
33 Fergus McCauley Irl same, 73 Keith Gallagher Irl +30.13  Overall GC 1 Leipeikis Remigijus Lat 17:56.52, 3 Dave McCann Irl 2.41, 15 Eugene Moriarty Irl 14.42, 40 Fergus McCauley Irl 27.42, 50 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl 43.49, 
53 Tommy Evans Irl 45.15, 55 Keith Gallagher Irl 47.31
Stage 6 - 1 Wadachi Piotr Pol 3:49.14, 8 Dave McCann Irl +20, 38 Eugene Moriarty Irl +6.20, 64 Tommy Evans Irl same, 66 Fergus McCauley Irl same, 86 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl +50.30, 87 Keith Gallagher Irl same, Overall GC 1 Leipeikis Remigijus Lat 21:46.06, 6 Dave McCann Irl 3.01, 30 Eugene Moriarty Irl 20.46, 45 Fergus McCauley Irl 29.02, 51 Tommy Evans Irl 51.20, 72 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl 1:35:20, 73 Keith Gallagher Irl 1:39.02
Stage 7 - 1 Wadachi Piotr Pol 5:23.13, 2 Andross Aug Fin same, 3 Eugene Moriarty Irl same, 15 Dave McCann Irl same, 29 Fergus McCauley Irl same, 58 Keith Gallagher Irl +5.20, 64 Tommy Evans Irl +5.20, 83 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl +23.17.  Overall GC 1 Leipeikis Remigijus Lat 27:09.19, 6 Dave McCann Irl +3.01, 28 Eugene Moriarty Irl 20.46, 43 Fergus McCauley Irl 39.02, 50 Tommy Evans Irl 56.40, 69 Keith Gallagher Irl 1:40.40, 71 Stephen O'Sullivan Irl 1:54:37.

Ageless Cassidy in different class: (by Shane Stokes in the Irish Times Mar 6th) After winning the FBD Milk Ras last year at 37 years of age, Philip Cassidy yesterday illustrated in the Cycleways Cup that time shows no signs of obscuring the natural talent of the double Olympian.  Full Story >>  CycleWays Cup - See Pictures >>

Aidan Duff 2nd in the Tour d'Ermeraude - French division II championships, Mar 4th,  Results - 160km 1. Gilles Canouet (Fra) CC Marmande 3.50.45, 2. Aidan Duff (Irl) Nantes 44", 3. Samuel Plouhinec (Fra) AVC Aix 44", 4. Jean-Luc Campagnola (Fra) VC Pontivy 44", 5. Laurent Peupièce (Fra) GSC Blagnac 44". 

SCANLON WINS FIRST RACE  (Mar 6th) Mark Scanlon, the 1998 World Junior
Champion, has returned to winning ways in his first race for top French outfit VC Etupes.   The 19-year-old outsprinted four other riders in the Tour de Quatre Cantalons, a 160k national race in Eastern France. After leaving the Raboback U-23 squad for the French team, manager Frank Quinn stressed the importance of the result 'This result set's Mark up nicely with the team'.   Scanlon is regarded as one of the most talented Irish riders but missed most of last season after problems with his right knee.
Scanlon makes French impact (by Shane Stokes in the Irish Times Mar 10th): After a season hampered by a lingering knee injury, 1998 junior world champion Mark Scanlon posted the clearest sign yet of a return to form last weekend, when he outsprinted four breakaway companions to win the Tour de Quatre Cantalons.  MORE >>

Bjarne Riis Retires (Mar 2nd): - 1996 Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis is to retire from cycling.  The 37-ear-old Danish cyclist has not participated in any race since he broke his arm last year at the Tour de Suisse.

Fine debut for Fox FEB 25th: ( By Shane Stokes in the Irish Times) Having signed a professional contract with the Tonissteiner team in October, Athlone cyclist Morgan Fox made his debut in last week's Lloret de Mar race in Spain.  MORE >>