February 2001 |
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FIRST RACE CANCELLED: (By Jim Traynor Feb 28) Banbridge CC's opening event of the Northern Ireland season at Annaclone has been postponed until later in the season because of the suspected outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in South Armagh. Speaking for the club race organiser Marty Kearns said that the race took place entirely in a farming area and they could not take any risk of spreading the disease as riders would be travelling to the event from all over Ulster and further afield. FBD
Milk Rás: Entry forms and
accomodation booking information are available now.
Results: 1 Paddy Moriarty Dublin Skip 2:00'10" 2 Richie Cahill Banteer @ 2secs 3 Eddie O'Donohoe Carrick Cidona @20secs 4 Tim Hogan Dungarvan Credit Union @same 5 Sean McElroy Carrick Cidona @30secs 6 Tim Barry Leeside Cork @same1st unplaced 'B' Denis o'Shea 1st unplaced Junior Paudie o'Brien 1st unplaced Vet Noel McCarthy. TEAM IRELAND: (By Gerard Cromwell Feb 14) Five of Ireland's top amateur cyclists left Dublin Airport today for their new base in France. Under the new Irish Cycling Federation 'Team Ireland' initiative the quintet will spend the rest of the season living and racing in France under the guidance of a top French cycling coach and the physiological supervision of the ICF and the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. The initiative recieved a substantial £20,250 grant from the Irish Sports Council, allowing the riders to race and train full time and thus gain the maximum benefit. Brian Kenneally (Carrick Cidona), Mike McNena (Thermo King), Tommy Evans and Stephen OSullivan (both Clarkes Nissan) and ex-professional Morgan Fox from Athlone posed for pictures and were in upbeat mood about the new venture, which will hopefully see some of them gain a professional contract for next season. MORE HERE >> SPANISH RIDER DIES IN CRASH: (Feb 15) Spanish rider Ricardo Ochoaoa has been killed in a car accident while his twin brother and Kelme team-mate Javier was taken to hospital with serious injuries, a team spokesman said. The two racers were run over on a slip road as they trained at Cartama in the southern province of Malaga on Thursday Ricardo died on the spot while Javier, winner of the 10th stage of last year's Tour de France, was in a coma having suffered serious injuries to his head and body. According to reports, the accident was head on with a car. The two riders were cycling home after a training session. CHANGE OF START TO FBD MILD RAS: (Feb 16) The FBD Milk Ras will this year break from its traditional Dublin start and instead begins in Navan on May 20. However, the race will still end in Dublin city centre on May 26. In between Navan and Dublin, the Ras will visit Ballaghadereen, Portumna, Nenagh, Castleisland, Killorglin, Skibberreen, Dungarvan and Bunclody. More Details Here >> ICF DECLARES ALLEGIANCE TO BURROWS: (By Shane Stokes Feb 14) With just one day to go to the crucial election for presidency of the Olympic Council of Ireland, the Irish Cycling Federation have pledged their support for Richard Burrows. At a meeting held last night, the ICF board unanimously voted to support Burrow’s challenge to current president Pat Hickey. The decision will come as a blow to the reigning president, who had been predicting a comfortable victory but now faces a much tougher contest as federations such as the Basketball Association and the ICF turn against him. In a press release issued today, the ICF said that their decision reflected a need for ‘change in the way the Olympic movement is perceived and run in this country.’ More on this and other Reports HERE >>
The Senior manager will be Declan Byrne from Clonmel, Declan was manager and mechanic on numerous Irish teams in the past. Declan will work with the High performance group in selecting Senior squads and development squads and over looking Team Ireland in France with the French coach Frederic Rostaing. The Junior/Ladies Manager will be Jim Cassidy. Jim is a rider with the Garda Team and represented Ireland at World Championship level. Jim will work with the HPG on Squads and development squads, a bring our Juniors and ladies up to a higher standard in the near future. A Track Commission will also be announced in the near future and their roll will be setting up Track Development Squads. The Mountain Bike Managers for Downhill and Cross Country will be announced next week. Tour de Langkawi 2001: All the Race Results >> - Pictures taken by Pat McQuaid>>
Jack Watson was also elected as U.E.C. delegate at U.C.I. congress, getting 30 votes out of 30. Pat McQuaid also formally gave the World Championship bid Document into the U.C.I. on Saturday, which will start the wheels in motion for Ireland hosting the 2004 World Cycling Championships. IRELAND LODGES BID FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: (By Shane Stokes Feb 4) Prospects of Ireland staging the 2004 world cycling championships have moved a step closer with the lodging of the bid document with the International Cycling Union (UCI) this weekend. Under the proposal submitted by former Nissan Classic race director Pat McQuaid and business partner Alan Rushton, Killarney would host the series in October of 2004, bringing an influx of the world’s best cyclists and thousands of spectators to the Kerry region. More on this story HERE >> HIGH FOREIGN ENTRY IN THIS YEAR’S FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes Feb 7) FBD Milk Rás organiser Dermot Dignam today reported a high degree of interest from foreign teams in this year’s race, which carries world ranking points for the first time after being elevated to a 2.5-graded international event last Autumn. According to Dignam a large number of squads, including several small professional trade teams have applied to line out in the 8 day round-Ireland race, which runs from May 20-27th. More on this and other Reports HERE >> Radical overhaul of Olympics system proposed: (Irish Times Feb 7) There was cause for a sense of renewed faith at Government Buildings yesterday when the consultants brought in to review Ireland's performance at the Sydney Olympics published their report, which included no fewer than 29 recommendations for overhauling how elite sport is administered here. Read the full story in the Irish Times >> McQUAID FOR ROUBAIX: (By Gerard Cromwell Feb 1) 21 year old UCD rider, David McQuaid is on his way to VC Roubaix in France for the 2001 season. After a season in Italy with the crack under 23 Zalf Fior squad, which also contained Mayo's Dave O'Loughlin las year, McQuaid said "Zalf Fior was a bloody good set-up, but a lot of things made me want a change and a new language." Having just returned from a
training spell in Lanzarote, the Wicklow man heads off to France on the 10th of
February for a training camp with his new squad. "I started training late
and so am not concerned about the early season races. I go better in the good
weather." he says.
More on this, plus Gerard Cromwell Asks McQuaid 20 Questions Here >> POWER SECURES CONTRACT: (By Shane Stokes Feb 6) As the continental racing season gets under way, Irish cyclist Ciaran Power has been handed the lifeline of a professional contract with the St. Quentin-Oktos team for 2001. Power’s career had been plunged
into uncertainty thirteen days ago with the unexpected collapse of the Linda
McCartney team, but the 24 year old has been able to secure a last-minute slot
with the small, second division French squad and thus quash fears that he may be
forced to retire. |
MORIARTY
WINS LACEY CUP: (By
Ciaran McKenna ICF PROFeb 25) Paddy Moriarty was the winner of the first race of
the cycling season when he outwitted his opponents to win The Lacey Perpetual
Trophy in Tralee. The handicapped race on the Dingle Peninsula over 85
kilometres attracted a competitive field of 75.The limit group had an advantage
of 8 minutes on the scratch group. This gave the veteran Sean McElroy an
advantage, which nearly paid off. He was within sight of the winning line before
Moriarty who is a seasoned international competitor overhauled him. At the
finish he had a two second lead on Ritchie Cahill with Eddie O’Donohoe last
years winner back in third place.
Road
Squad Managers Announced: (Ciaran McKenna, ICF Public Relations Officer Feb
8) The High performance group are pleased to announce the managers
for the Senior and Junior/Ladies squads.
Irish
do well at European Cycling Union Conference: (By Ciaran McKenna ICF PR Feb
4) At the U.E.C. conference in Prague yesterday Pat McQuaid was
elected on to the U.C.I. executive council receiving 25 out of the 30 votes.
McQuaid who currently heads the road commission dealing with U23, Juniors and
Ladies said, “being nominated by the Irish Cycling Federation and elected for
another 4 years to the UCI Executive is a great honour.