Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: August - September 2000 IRISH COMPLETE OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION: And so it ends. The time trial medals remain to be disputed, but the Irish participation in the cycling events in Sydney have come to a close. So how should we judge their performances? Realistically, can be the only answer. First mountain biking: Going into the games Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens were best qualified to predict their finishing positions, given that cross country racing is less dependant on tactics than on pure strength. The variables that exist in road racing simply are not present; the fact that Seymour and Owens have competed against most of their rivals in the past also enabled them to better approximate their own strengths relative to the world's best. <Full Olympic Report Here> SCANLON BEGINS
GUEST SLOT WITH PRO TEAM: TOUR OF HOKKAIDO, JAPAN: EVANS 3rd ON FINAL STAGE, MORIARTY 4th OVERALL, SCANLON WINS POINTS CLASSIFICATION: (Sept 20) Following Mark Scanlon's two stage wins earlier this week, the Irish finished off the Tour of Hokkaido in style today when Tommy Evans took third on the seventh stage and Paddy Moriarty finished an excellent fourth overall in the world-ranked race. Scanlon and Evans also took first and second respectively in the points classification, marking one of the best displays in years by an Irish team. The performance is an encouraging one for Scanlon and team-mate David O'Loughlin, who next week begin a guest slot for the Linda McCartney professional outfit and will then dispute the world under 23 championships in France on October 13th. OWENS OPENS OLYMPICS FOR IRISH CYCLISTS: (Sept 22) The waiting is over. At about 3 AM Saturday morning (Irish time) 23 year old Tarja Owens begins Ireland's Olympic cycling campaign when she lines out with the world's best mountainbike riders on the Fairfield city farm course on the outskirts of Sydney. Described by 1996 world champion Thomas Frischknecht as 'the best course I have ever seen', the combination of short, explosive climbs and fast technical descents will stretch Owens and male competitor Robin Seymour - who races 24 hours later - to the limit. Both are aiming for top-twenty finishes, both know they will have to rise to the occasion to do so. Next up will be Deirdre Murphy, who
disputes the women's road race on Tuesday, before Ciaran Power and David McCann
rub shoulders with the likes of Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich in the men's
event on Wednesday 27th. Intimidating? You bet, but by all reports the
Irish quintet are raring to go. Aidan Duff takes the final place on
that squad, replacing Brian Kenneally who is on a continuing trial with the
Linda McCartney outfit. Manager Sean Yates is reportedly happy with Kenneally's
team riding to date, especially after Max Sciandri's success in the top-ranked
Giro del Lazio last Saturday. Finally, the Red Bull Irish downhill mountainbike championships take place this weekend in Ravensdale forest park, Dundalk. For the first time ever, UCI points are up for grabs in the event, which runs from 11 am until 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. OWENS' GOAL: (By Shane Stokes) Deirdre Murphy enjoys the distinction of being the first Irishwoman ever selected for the Olympic Games, but she was unexpectedly joined by Tarja Owens on the squad last month. Owens, a 23 year old mountainbike rider from Delgany, had been chasing an Olympic place in 1999 but although she improved her world ranking to 57th, she narrowly missed qualification by the cut-off date. Listed as a reserve for the Games, she was given the nod by the UCI (Union Cycliste International) when some of the countries selected indicated they would not send their full quota of riders. 'I thought it was a joke at first', the six-times national champion laughs. 'I knew I was a reserve, but to tell you the truth I had pretty much forgotten about going. When Robin (Seymour, her boyfriend and fellow Olympic team member) told me, I thought he was having me on but then got messages from other people telling me the same thing.' Owens had been at her English base in Alton at the time, where she stays most of the year with the rest of the Helly Hansen mountain bike team. A breakneck dash back to Ireland ensued, in order to get the accreditation forms signed and sent to Sydney in time, and then she faced the daunting task of preparing at short notice for the biggest race of her life. 'It is going to be difficult', she admitted before flying to Sydney, 'but luckily I was aiming for a BMB race in England in September so I am still pretty fit. The first thing I did was take a rest week, to ensure I was fresh starting all the training for Sydney. I am going to do a bit of motorpacing to get my speed up, and then take things from there. Everything is happening so fast, it is all a bit surreal. People are coming up to me, congratulating me but it is a bit like being in a daze. I can't quite believe it is happening.' With such short notice and with the vast majority of the field older than her, Owens' aspirations for the women's cross-country race on September 23rd are to finish in the top twenty of the thirty starters. But, considering a move to the continent next year where her apprenticeship will really begin, the Sports Science graduate is looking further ahead. 'My real goal would be the Olympics in four years time', she says. 'I am really grateful for the chance to go to Sydney, it will be great for my experience. But I think that four years down the road I will be a far better cyclist. I really believe that if everything goes right, and if I improve as I think I should, then a top ten place is realistic. That's what I will be aiming for and I think it is possible.' SCANLON WINS AGAIN IN JAPAN: (Sept 19) Irish cyclist Mark Scanlon has once again topped the podium in the world-ranked Tour of Hokkaido in Japan. The 19 year old proved fastest in the bunch sprint which decided the penultimate sixth stage, taking his second win in five days. The former world junior champion is due to begin a guest spot with the Linda McCartney team at the end of the month, before aiming for a strong performance in the forthcoming under 23 world championships in France on October 13th. He will turn professional with the French-based McCartney team next spring. Of the other Ireland riders in Japan, Scanlon's team-mate Paddy Moriarty is currently sixth overall, 46 seconds behind race leader Eric Wohlberg of Canada. The race ends tomorrow with a 60 km criterium (street race) in Saporro. MORIARTY THIRD ON STAGE OF TOUR OF HOKKAIDO: (Sept 18) Irish cyclist Paddy Moriarty today finished a fine third on the fifth stage of the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan, coming home just three seconds behind stage winner Valeriy Titov of Kazakstan. Ireland team-mate Tommy Evans sprinted home 4 seconds later to take seventh on the 146 kilometre leg. Moriarty is best placed of the Irish overall in sixth place. Stage one winner and previous race leader Mark Scanlon has slipped down the overall standings to 39th place. 15th September 2000
SCANLON WINS IN JAPAN: Mark Scanlon extended his winning sequence to six victories in a row yesterday when he took the opening stage of the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan. Scanlon, who is building towards the world under 23 championships in France next month, broke free with three other riders early in the stage but was caught by the main bunch. The aggressive 19 year old then made a lone attack in the final ten kilometres, was hauled back and yet still had the strength to win the bunch sprint. Of the other Irish, Eugene Moriarty was fourth in the surge for the line, Tommy Evans 19th, Paddy Moriarty 47th and David O'Loughlin 48th. By virtue of his win, Scanlon wears the leaders jersey going into today's second stage. The world-ranked race finishes next Wednesday. KENNEALLY GETS BIG OPPORTUNITY: As Ciaran Power and the rest of the Irish squad count down the days until their Olympic races, slightly closer to home another Irish cyclist is gearing up for one of the biggest tests of his sporting career. Kilkenny rider Brian Kenneally flies out to Italy today to meet up with the rest of the Linda McCartney squad, and tomorrow begins a guest slot with the vegetarian outfit. Beginning such a campaign with the top-ranked Giro del Lazio is a huge task but the 25 year old is determined to do all he can to support the team's designated captain Max Sciandri. Between then and the following Sunday, Kenneally will contest 4 other one day events and later in the month tackles two stage races. Unfortunately, Linda McCartney team manager Sean Yates states that outfit is full for next season, limiting Irish interests in 2001 to Ciaran Power and Mark Scanlon, but the trial is nevertheless a great opportunity for Kenneally to chase a contract with another team, or with the British squad for 2002. Speaking of Power, after some strong team riding in recent events he has joined the rest of the Irish squad in Australia. Contrary to their schedule two of the quintet, David McCann and Robin Seymour, opted not to ride the marathon 275 kilometre Melbourne-Warrnambnool event, with McCann racing instead in the Hornsby to Swansea race last Sunday. The Irish national champion was third across the finish line, but was disqualified due to being paced back on by a car after breaking his handlebars. He did however take the king of the mountains prize. With another Irish team starting the Tour of Hokkaido today, it means that there will unfortunately be a below-par field in tomorrow's rescheduled 40 kilometre time trial championship in Banbridge. The fifth round of the MTB National Points Series scheduled for Drogheda on Sunday has been cancelled. 10th September 2000 O'LOUGHLIN
SECOND IN TOUR OF THE PEAKS, GETS PRO TRIAL: (Shane Stokes Sept 10)
Ireland team riders David O'Loughlin and Brian Kenneally both received boosts to
their end-of season aspirations yesterday when they were second and third
respectively in the world-ranked Tour of the Peaks in Derbyshire. 22 year
old O'Loughlin, who this weekend was offered a trial with the professional Linda
McCartney squad, went clear with eventual winner Mark Lovatt 20 miles into the
hilly race and eventually finished one minute and 34 seconds in arrears.
Kenneally - who also guests with the burgeoning outfit later this month - jumped
clear of a nine man chasing group to finish a further one minute and 16 seconds
behind. ARMSTRONG HAS FRACTURED BONE; MAY MISS SYDNEY: Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong may miss out on his goal of winning an Olympic gold medal, following the announcement that he has a fractured a bone in his neck. Armstrong, 28, hit a car while training last week and while it was initially thought that his injuries were limited to cuts and bruises, an MRI scan has revealed a crack in the C7 vertebra. Armstrong states that the injury will affect his preparations for Sydney, where he was favourite to take the gold medal in the time trial event. The American has been forced to pull out of this weekend's Paris-Brussels and Grand Prix des Fourmies semi-classics. He will however race in the Grand Prix des Nations time trial on September 16th, after which he will decide whether to go to Sydney. POWER 7TH IN BRUSSEL-IZEGEM RACE IN BELGIUM: With three weeks to go to the Olympic road race, Irish professional Ciaran Power redisplayed his finishing speed in the world-ranked Brussel-Izegem race in Belgium today. The race was decided in a bunch sprint and 24 year old Power was placed a fine 7th, crossing the line in the same time as race winner Fabrizio Guidi of Italy. Power has been disputing a number of high-quality one day races with his Linda McCartney squad in order to prepare for the Olympics. He is scheduled to line out in the Paris-Brussels and Grand Prix des Fourmies semi-classics at the weekend before jetting out to Sydney later this month. 3rd September 2000 SCANLON TAKES SECOND LEG OF BELFAST-DUBLIN-BELFAST, WINS OVERALL: The outcome of today’s second stage of the Belfast-Dublin-Belfast race was a virtual re-run of yesterday’s finish with Mark Scanlon again beating Brian Kenneally to the line, and winning the stage race overall. After breaking his elbow just two months ago, the 1998 junior world champion reaffirmed both his class and his return to form in the clearest possible manner this weekend, taking both stages plus the points and the mountains classifications. Kenneally has the consolation of finishing second in both the overall and points competitions, plus the news that he has been selected for a trial with the Linda McCartney professional cycling team. National under 23 champion David O’Loughlin was third overall, 3 minutes 35 seconds behind, with Leinster’s Brian Lennon a further 3 minutes and 57 seconds in arrears in fourth place. STAGE 2: DUBLIN-BELFAST: 1, Mark Scanlon (Ireland) 102 miles in 3 hours 40 mins 43 secs, 2, Brian Kenneally (Munster) at 2 seconds, 3, Thomas Evans (Clarkes Nissan) at 2 mins 27 secs, 4, Patrick Moriarty (Ireland) same time, 5, Shane Baker (Leinster) same time, 6, Fintan McCormack (Kildare) at 2 mins 37 secs, 7, Brian Lennon (Leinster) same time, 8, Paul Madden (Cahills Naas) same FINAL OVERALL: 1, Mark Scanlon (Ireland) 204 miles in 7 hours 19 mins 48 secs, 2, Brian Kenneally (Munster) at 4 seconds, 3, David O’Loughlin (Ireland) at 3 mins 35 seconds, 4, Brian Lennon (Munster) at 7 mins 32 seconds, 5, Paul Healion (Leinster) at 7 mins 34 seconds, 6, Martin O’Loughlin (Munster) at 7 mins 35 seconds, 7, Patrick Moriarty (Ireland) at 8 mins 38 seconds, 8, Jonathan Dempsey (Clarke Contracts) at 13 minutes 13 seconds <Full Results from Séamus Shortall>
SCANLON TAKES OPENING OF BELFAST -DUBLIN -BELFAST: (Sept 2) With just over one month to go to the under 23 world championships, 19 year old Mark Scanlon showed he is coming into good form by beating the country’s best riders on today’s opening 102 mile leg of the Belfast -Dublin -Belfast stage race. Scanlon beat fellow breakaway companion Brian Kenneally to the line, 43 seconds ahead of the Irish under 23 champion David O’Loughlin and fourth-placed David McCann, who flies out to the Sydney Olympics on Monday. Shane Prendergast was next, pipping Leinster team-mate Paul Healion to the line. However, these riders were over four and half minutes behind Scanlon and Kenneally, making it almost certain that the race lies between the first four overall going into tomorrow’s return journey to Belfast. The competition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the first Irish stage race, and follows the original course where possible. Today’s stage was a full 58 minutes faster than that of half a century ago. Results: 1 Mark Scanlon (Ireland) -102 miles in 3h 39 mins 30 secs, 2 Brian Kenneally (Munster) same time, 3 David O’Loughlin (Ireland) at 43 secs, 4 David McCann (Phoenix) same time, 5 Shane Prendergast (Leinster) at 4 mins 37 secs, 6 Paul Healion (Leinster) same time, 7 Martin O’Loughlin (Munster) same time, 8 Brian Lennon (Leinster) same time <Full Results from Séamus Shortall> 30th August 2000 MURPHY,
MCCANN HIGHLY PLACED IN RUN-UP TO OLYMPICS: (Shane Stokes Aug 30)
Using several American races to finalise her preparations before heading to
Sydney, Deirdre Murphy has shown she is coming into impressive physical
condition by placing third in the Syracuse Criterium in New York State.
Murphy bridged up to a two woman break to make the podium behind Nicole
Reinhart, the series leader and now overall winner of the prestigious Saturn
USPRO tour. Murphy then placed 16th the following day in the nearby Chris Thater
Memorial Criterium, sprinting home in the same time as winner Katrina
Berger. ARMSTRONG IN COLLISION WITH SPEEDING CAR: Double Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has suffered a setback in his goal to complete a previously unachieved Tour-Olympics double in Sydney this month. Armstrong and US Postal team-mate Tyler Hamilton both came close to serious injury while training near Nice this week, when a speeding car caused both to crash heavily on a mountain descent. Twenty eight year old Armstrong hit the car head on, destroying his bicycle and helmet, but was fortunate to only suffer bruising and road rash. Hamilton (29) swerved to avoid the car and his tumbling team leader, and ended up in a ditch with just cuts and scrapes to show for his high speed spill. Both riders are expected to be able to resume training for the Olympic time trial in two or three days. 23rd August 2000
FOX FORCED TO PUT RACING ON HOLD: Morgan Fox, one of two professional Irish cyclists, has been forced to postpone plans to return to racing before 2001. The 26 year old, who last Autumn signed a contract with the Belgian Tonissteiner team, had been struck by a reoccurrence of glandular fever in June. Doctors have now advised a later-than-expected return to racing, in order to ensure that the virus is fully cleared from his system. Fox is undergoing regular medical testing in Trinity college to monitor his recovery. He has been assured by his team manager Gerard Bulens that there is a place for him on the team for next season. ICF EGM
CANCELLED; BOTH OFFICALS CONCERNED GOING TO SYDNEY: It was announced
earlier today that the Irish Cycling Federation EGM scheduled for this Saturday
has been cancelled, amidst suggestions that some of the required 13 clubs named
on the application did not actually call for such a meeting. According to Ciaran
McKenna of the ICF, the board will be meeting on Saturday and are likely to
looking further into the matter.
21st August 2000 SEYMOUR’S OLYMPIC PARTICIPATION NOT IN QUESTION: Despite his withdrawal from Sunday’s European mountainbike championships in Rhenen, the Netherlands, no interruption in Robin Seymour’s Olympic preparation is expected. The 29 year old pulled out of yesterday’s race with some back trouble, but these have been attributed more to the nature of the course rather than a fall he sustained last week. A large number of riders, including 1999 world champion Michael Rasmussen retired from the race, held on sand dunes and described as a ‘back-breaker’ of a course. Seymour will go for physiotherapy today ‘just for a check-up’, but expects to be fully fit for the forthcoming world cup race in Lausanne, Switzerland. He will dispute the Olympic cross-country mountainbike race on September 24th. Irish
Cycling Federation EGM Called for Sat 26th: Continuing controversy
over the selection of officials for the Olympic games has led to the calling of
an Emergency General Meeting for this Saturday, taking place at 2.30 in the West
County hotel, Chapelizod. The EGM follows the overturning of national team
director Richie Beatty’s nomination of John Keegan as Irish team mechanic. Two
weeks ago the board of the Irish Cycling Federation decided to send Peter
Purfield in his place, on grounds that he would be better able to assist
mountainbike rider Robin Seymour on his Olympic debut. 20th August 2000
O’LOUGHLIN
WINS RAS CONNACHTA: David O’Loughlin, who returned from his base in
Italy to contest his home race, today won the 3 day Ras Connachta. The 22 year
old bested Martin O’Loughlin by one minute 42 seconds over the 4 stages, with
former junior world champion Mark Scanlon third overall, 5 minutes and 4 seconds
back. Today’s final stage was won by Brian Kenneally, who broke clear in
the closing miles to cross the line over one minute clear of Cidona Carrick
clubmate Adrian Hedderman. The Ras Connachta victory means that O’Loughlin
will go into next weekend’s under 23 championships as favourite. He is aiming
for a strong end-of-season campaign in the hope of securing a professional
contract for next year. 16th August 2000 EVANS FINISHES 4TH OVERALL IN WORLD-RANKED RACE: After holding the race leader’s yellow jersey for two stages, Irish cyclist Tommy Evans finished a strong 4th overall in the world-ranked Tour of Guadeloupe. Evans rode consistently well during the race, registering a string of top ten stage placings in the 2.6 ranked event. His VC Perpignan team mate and current Irish national champion David McCann finished the race in 11th place, having won the 8th stage with a daring lone break. McCann is one of four Irish cyclists who will dispute the Elite men’s road race in the Sydney Olympics next month. The Belfast rider lines out alongside Linda McCartney professional Ciaran Power in the Elite men’s road race, while Deirdre Murphy tackles the women’s event and Robin Seymour races in the mountainbike cross-country competition. HEALION WINS LEINSTER CHAMPIONSHIPS: National criterium champion Paul Healion illustrated his current good form when he soloed to victory in last night’s Leinster championship in Dunboyne. Healion and five others had forged clear shortly after the start of the 28 mile race, and were gifted a significant boost when the chasing field took a wrong turn and lost two minutes. Healion attacked with 8 miles to go, building a 49 second winning gap by the line. Robert Looby (Cahill’s Naas) took silver, with Healion’s Usher IRC team mate Shane Baker crossing the line in third. 1, Paul Healion (Usher IRC) 28 miles in 1 hour 6 mins 37 secs, 2, Robert Looby (Cahills Naas) at 49 seconds, 3, Shane Baker (Usher IRC), 4, Brian Lennon (St. Tiernan’s), 5, Tim Ahern (Bray Wheelers), 6, Sean Bracken (Usher IRC), Junior: Tim Ahern Veteran: Sean Bracken 8th August 2000 Olympic MTB: Mention of cycle racing tends to conjure up images of the Tour de France, of frenzied bunch sprints and grueling Alpine mountain stages. There is, however, another wing of the sport where the battlefield is mud and rock rather than high-speed asphalt, and where Irish mountainbike rider Robin Seymour harbours ambitions of a top twenty place in Sydney. By Shane Stokes AUGUST 6th. Glamorous it is not. Breathless, sweating and caked from head to toe in splatters of grey mud, he wheels to a halt after almost two hours of flat-out effort and settles down to a long wait. Behind him, away from the small crowd, Union wood in Sligo is quiet, peaceful; over twelve minutes elapse before the silence is broken by the shouts of those cheering the second and third placed riders home. On this day Robin Seymour is, quite clearly, in a class of his own. In a sport where the currency of victory is usually measured in seconds rather than minutes, the margin of his win illustrates a clear dominance over the field. So too the fact that the 29 year old has lapped all bar two of his rivals in this Irish cross country championship, continually reeling in riders as he powered his lightweight racing machine over the steep climbs and down the juddering, technically demanding descents of the forested course. If anything, statistics reveal a more impressive superiority. Seven times the national mountain bike championships have been held in Ireland, seven times there has been the same runaway winner of the title. Combine this with nine consecutive victories in the national cyclo-cross event and you get the measure of his achievement. A run of fifteen uninterrupted national titles which makes his Olympic debut in Sydney all the more belated. Atlanta, well that goes down as one that got away. Seymour and Tour de France stage winner Martin Earley were regarded as the two strongest mountainbike riders at the time, but while the latter was given the nod by the Irish selectors, Seymour saw the second slot handed to northern cyclist Alastair Martin. It was a bitter pill, a decision which sparked much controversy within the sport. Four years on, he speaks little of that time. Better instead to substitute reflection and recollection with ambition and focus. One month to go and no time for introspective what-might-have-beens. ‘I am just delighted to be going and determined to ride as well as I can’, he said in February, when he became the first cyclist to be nominated by the Irish Cycling Federation for Sydney. And now? ‘It is just beginning to really sink in’, he admits. ‘Most days I am getting stuff in the post, telling me the arrangements for the Olympic village etcetera and that is bringing it home. Now I am starting to get a bit worried’, he smiles. ‘Worried and excited.’ The opportunity is just reward for the Wicklow cyclist, who has toiled for years in pursuit of such moments. Finding he had outgrown Irish competition Seymour moved to England several years ago and, rated in the top five there, races for the Helly-Hansen squad alongside girlfriend Tarja Owens - who has dominated the Irish women’s scene for almost as long as he. Last year a costly overseas campaign saw him break into the top fifty in the world rankings and secure an Olympic slot for Ireland. This year, well, since his ratification by the Irish cycling federation everything has been geared towards Sydney. Reassuringly, things have gone quite well. ‘The world championships back in June were very encouraging’, he says. ‘It was at high altitude in Sierra Nevada, I started quite far back on the grid but had a really solid race and ended up 34th by the end. I just rode really steadily and paced myself perfectly. I had another good race in Lommel, Belgium recently – I didn’t feel that great, physically, on the day but things worked out well and I was 13th in a good field.’ So what of his expectations for Sydney? ‘The course is perhaps not as technical as I would like, but the short, sharp climbs make me quite optimistic’, he says. ‘I was 34th in the world championship out of 100 riders, but the Olympics has a field half that size and of that, there are perhaps ten guys from countries who wouldn’t be that strong. So I think if all goes well on the day, a top twenty finish is certainly possible.’ Seymour gets a chance at a dry run (although in truth a mudbath would be much preferred) in next Saturday’s European championships in Rhenen, Holland. Then the emphasis of his twenty hours a week on the bike shifts from endurance work to power and speed sessions as he peaks for his September 24th deadline. And afterwards? Such is his tunnel vision, what comes next is somewhat unclear. He’s 29 years old, an age when physiology begins to hamper the athlete but having started late he remains upbeat. ‘I still feel that I can get more out of myself and that makes me want to continue. I like the thought of racing in America – I did a few rides over there last year and handled myself well. The courses are more technical and have shorter, power climbs which suit me.’ ‘You know, I’d even ride for nothing for a professional team’, he admits. ‘Just being brought to all the races, competing against the best and having myself and my bike looked after…that would be enough.’ And they say De Coubertin’s ideology is dead and buried. Amidst the posturing, the preening and the posing which accompanies the Olympic circus, his attitude is a beacon. Few could begrudge him a strong performance in Sydney, in September. Irish To Ride Trek Bikes: For Ciaran Power and David McCann, clashing with Lance Armstrong in the Elite men’s road race is very much a battle of David-and-Golliath proportions. But while they may not have the legs of the double Tour de France winner, they will at least go into the September 27th race with the knowledge that their bicycles are almost identical. The American manufacturer Trek began sponsorship of the Irish team in 1998 when they opened an assembly point in Carlow. At the heart of the bicycles supplied by the Irish distributor Centro is the 5500 OCLV carbon fibre frame, which according to Trek is the world’s lightest production frame at a mere 2.44 pounds. Constructed out of their Optimum Compaction, Low Void carbon fibre, the manufacturing process reduces air pockets in order to further improve stiffness and is of a grade which meets the standard required for use in fighter planes. Hence the £1, 200 price tag for frame and fork alone. The bikes, to be used by Power and McCann and by Deirdre Murphy in the women’s road race are all kitted out with lightweight Japanese- manufactured Shimano Dura-Ace components, costing £1200. A range of 18 gears is accessible from shifters integrated into the brake lever: pushing the brake lever towards the center of the bike moves the chain to larger sprockets, while a recessed lever allows it to click back down through the gears. Pedals, too, are vastly different to those found on the standard bicycle. A clipless mechanism (so called because it replaces the old toe clip and strap set-up) binds to the racing shoe and facilitates a better transfer of power from rider to bike. And so onto wheels. Apart from the frame, these have probably the greatest effect on performance. Lightness, rigidity and aerodynamics; all three concerns will be met through the use of Mavic Ksyrium aluminum wheels. Rolling resistance will be further reduced through the use of top quality tubular tyres pumped to 140 pounds per square inch. After that, how else to maximize the chances of a good Irish result? Throw in a speedometer, which measures current and average speed, pedal cadence and elapsed time and distance, plus a pulse meter to monitor how fast the heart is beating. Fit water bottles containing liquid carbohydrate, essential to replace some of the 4000-odd calories which will be lost during the Olympic road race. And, once the flag drops, look for Lance Armstrong’s back wheel and don’t budge from it for the next six hours. Irish team issue Trek 5500: Weight 17 pounds, total price £3,400 6th August 2000 POWER 76TH IN WORLD CUP RACE: (Aug 6) Irish professional Ciaran Power was 76th in today’s HEW Cyclassics World Cup race in Germany, finishing in a group containing some of the world’s best cyclists which crossed the line 2 minutes and 11 seconds behind winner Gabriele Missaglia of Italy. German rider Erik Zabel finished 4th in the 251 kilometre race and consolidates his clear lead in the world cup standings. 4th August 2000 TOUR OF
DENMARK, EUROPEAN UNDER 23 CHAMPS: Irish professional
Ciaran Power placed 10th on yesterday’s third stage of the Tour of Denmark,
crossing the line in the main bunch 1 minute and 48 seconds behind the breakaway
duo of stage winner Geert Van Bondt and the new Meanwhile, David O’Loughlin was 37th in the 30 kilometre time trial in the under 23 European championships. Paul Healion failed to complete the course. Both riders, together with David McQuaid and Stephen Gallagher line out in the road race on Saturday. Lorraine Manning was 31st in the Ladies 22 KM time trial. SEYMOUR AIMS FOR SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE TITLE: This weekend, one of the most impressive records in Irish sport comes back to the fore when Elite Mountain bike rider Robin Seymour attempts to win his seventh successive national cross-country title. Seymour, who is targeting a top twenty finish in his debut Olympics in just over one month’s time, starts Sunday’s race in Union wood, Sligo as the clear favourite to take the men’s race. Similarly, his Helly Hansen team-mate and girlfriend Tarja Owens lines out in the women’s event seeking what will be her sixth consecutive gold medal. As sporting relationships go, that makes some pairing. Both riders will be part of an as-yet unfinalised team for the European MTB championships in two weeks time, where Seymour is hoping for a top-twenty place. Other Irish riders are already at the European under 23 road championships; David O’Loughlin and Paul Healion competed yesterday in the men’s time trial, with Lorraine Manning racing in the women’s test. Tomorrow, Manning lines out in the women’s road race while O’Loughlin, Healion, Stephen Gallagher and David McQuaid dispute the men’s competition, where O’Loughlin is aiming for a top-twenty placing. Green jersey duty is not limited to the Polish-based championships, however. After David McCann’s fine third place in last weekend’s Tour of the Cotswalds, another Irish team lines out in Sunday’s Havant Grand Prix in Portsmouth. It was initially envisaged that McCann would be part of the squad, but instead the quartet comprises Brian Kenneally, Stephen O’Sullivan, Eugene Moriarty and Paddy Moriarty. Elsewhere, Ciaran Power begins his build-up for the Olympic Games in the Tour of Demark; the 24 year old is currently 104th overall in this, his first professional appointment since early June. And so onto a equally busy domestic scene. Mountainbike championships aside, Irish cycling is positively buzzing with activity with a number of impressive races at this time. Today begins the FPM Newry/Mourne 3 day for second category seniors, juniors, veterans and ladies. Tomorrow, one of the most ambitious races for underage riders kicks off when the Westwood Homes 3 day youth Tour gets underway, boasting a field of 140 cyclists including 45 English competitors. Sunday, the Gene Moriarty Memorial Cup in Listowel and the Klondyke Cup near Navan offer good racing for seniors, juniors, veterans and ladies, while the Millenium cycle in Portlaoise and the LCF cyclesuperstore facilitate those who exercise at a more humane pace. Bank holiday Monday features the Loughglynn Festival race in Mayo. And, despite a lack of funding from the Irish Sports council, one of the strongest fields in years will assemble on Tuesday for the start of the Junior Tour. Since JJ McCormack started the race in 1978 it has proved a pointer for budding talent, and with 54 foreign riders entered this year’s competition should prove as keenly contested as ever. Junior Tour? Don’t let the suffix deceive. MURPHY WINS USCF MASTERS CRITERIUM TITLE: With just over one month to go to the start of the Olympic games, Sydney-bound Deirdre Murphy has shown that she is coming into top fitness. The 41 year old American-based cyclist recently won the Criterium (street race) title in the American Masters championship. Murphy was originally expected to return to Ireland for the women’s road race championship at the end of the month, but has since opted to fly directly to Australia from the United States. She will represent Ireland in the Elite women’s road race in Sydney. 2nd August 2000 GENE MORIARTY CUP: Despite the international commitments which mean that a number of riders will miss this Sunday’s Gene Moriarty cup, including last year’s winner Brian Kenneally, race director Tadhg Moriarty has announced a strong field for the prestigious 70 mile race. Eddie O’Donoghue, Adrian Hedderman and Martin O’Loughlin attempt to retain the cup within the ranks of Kenneally’s Cidona Carrick club, while Aidan Crowley, Richie Cahill and Kieran McMahon are also listed amongst the favourites to carry off the £120 first prize. There are also awards for the first
team, for senior B riders, ladies, veterans and juniors. However, Moriarty is
disappointed that a clash with the Westwood Homes Youth Tour means that for the
first time in 17 years, Listowel CC’s application to host events for underage
riders has been Monie Nolan
Memorial: Avoiding the crashes which littered the opening miles of a
wet Monie Nolan Memorial, Adrian Hedderman from the Cidona Carrick club was the
clear winner of the Balscadden race. Hedderman had forged clear with four others
when a number of riders, including 1999 FBD Milk Ras winner Philip Cassidy, came
to grief shortly after the start. The quintet successfully held off a ten man
chasing group until the conclusion of the Results: 1, Adrian Hedderman (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 2, C. Green (Clann Eireann); 3, T. Cassidy (Finglas Ravens); 4, J. Leonard (Navan Avonmore); 5, P. Dunne (IRC Usher Insulations); 6, A. Crowley (Unattached) 1st Veteran: Jim Cassidy (Garda Motorway) Under 12: 1, Colm Enright (Aqua IRC); 2, M. Daly (Drogheda Wheelers); 3, N. Rock (Swords Mc Nally Joinery) Under 14: 1, Stephen Mc Kenna (Balbriggan Cycling Club); 2, C. Kelly (Aqua IRC); 3, D. Ward (Aqua IRC) 1st August 2000 FBD MILK RAS MAY BECOME WORLD RANKING EVENT: FBD Milk Ras race organizer Dermot Dignam is shortly expected to decide whether to go ahead with plans to secure world ranking status for the round-Ireland cycling race. Dignam, who has organized the nine day event since 1979, is presently in discussion with sponsors and the Irish Sports Council regarding what he terms the ‘substantial’ increase in race budget which would be required. The 48 year event is the highlight of the Irish cycling calendar, and the upgrading of the race to a 2.5 ranked competition would have significant implications for the sport in Ireland. With valuable world ranking points on offer, the move would see a large increase in both the number and quality of foreign teams applying to take part each year. It would also provide Irish cyclists with an invaluable source of points, which govern a country’s world ranking and determines if riders can participate in certain UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) events such as the world championships. At present, Ireland is ranked 40th in the world, with only the top 30 nations securing automatic qualification for the Elite world championships in Plouay, France, in October. However, according to Dignam, the awarding of a 2.5 ranking status to the FBD Milk Ras would considerably benefit Irish cycling. ‘If you consider the UCI points that Ciaran Power and other riders have earned this year, then add what Irish cyclists would have got from the Ras if it was a world ranking event, we should automatically qualify a rider for the world championships’, he says. ‘Take last year as another example: Ireland sent a team to the B world championships in Uruguay and qualified for the Olympics through the performances there’, he continues. Ciaran Power and Eugene Moriarty placed third and fifth respectively in the men’s road race, while Deirdre Murphy was 4th in the female event. ‘However, if world ranking points were in place in last year’s FBD Milk Ras, Ireland would have qualified without having to send a team to Uruguay. Those points would make things much easier for Irish cycling.’ If implemented, Dignam stresses that the upgrade would not radically change the event. ‘The Ras is a unique race, in that it allows the club rider to compete against internationals and it is important to preserve that balance’. He stresses that any increase in the standard of the field would be a gradual one, in order to help the development of Irish riders. Dignam expects a decision to be made within the next fortnight or so, once talks are concluded with the sponsors FBD Insurances and the National Dairy Council, plus the Irish Sports Council. He explains that ‘the upgrade to a world ranking event would require a substantial increase in the race budget, mainly to bring the prize money in line with UCI requirements. That is something which the sponsors would have to be happy with and agree to. Once a decision is made, I can get on with planning next year’s race.’ Monie Nolan Memorial: Avoiding the crashes which littered the opening miles of a wet Monie Nolan Memorial, Adrian Hedderman from the Cidona Carrick club was the clear winner of the Balscadden race. Hedderman had forged clear with four others when a number of riders, including 1999 FBD Milk Ras winner Philip Cassidy, came to grief shortly after the start. The quintet successfully held off a ten man chasing group until the conclusion of the high speed race, where Hedderman got the better of Chris Green and Tim Cassidy. Results: 1, Adrian Hedderman (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 2, C. Green (Clann Eireann); 3, T. Cassidy (Finglas Ravens); 4, J. Leonard (Navan Avonmore); 5, P. Dunne (IRC Usher Insulations); 6, A. Crowley (Unattached) 1st Veteran: Jim Cassidy (Garda Motorway) Under 12: 1, Colm Enright (Aqua IRC); 2, M. Daly (Drogheda Wheelers); 3, N. Rock (Swords Mc Nally Joinery) Under 14: 1, Stephen Mc Kenna (Balbriggan Cycling Club); 2, C. Kelly (Aqua IRC); 3, D. Ward (Aqua IRC) Under 16: 1, Andrew Mc Quaid (Emerald CC); 2, G. Devin (Drogheda Wheelers); 3, Stephen Enright (Aqua IRC) GENE MORIARTY CUP: Despite the international commitments which mean that a number of riders will miss this Sunday’s Gene Moriarty cup, including last year’s winner Brian Kenneally, race director Tadhg Moriarty has announced a strong field for the prestigious 70 mile race. Eddie O’Donoghue, Adrian Hedderman and Martin O’Loughlin attempt to retain the cup within the ranks of Kenneally’s Cidona Carrick club, while Aidan Crowley, Richie Cahill and Kieran McMahon are also listed amongst the favourites to carry off the £120 first prize. There are also awards for the first team, for senior B riders, ladies, veterans and juniors. However, Moriarty is disappointed that a clash with the Westwood Homes Youth Tour means that for the first time in 17 years, Listowel CC’s application to host events for underage riders has been refused. The Gene Moriarty cup, held on a tough ten mile course which has produced winners of the ilk of Phillip Cassidy, John Brady, Anthony O’Gorman, Julian Dalby and Stephen Spratt over the years, begins at 1 pm this Sunday August 6th. For additional details, contact Tadhg Moriarty at 087 2443360 or 068 22162, or Pat Flaherty at 068 22251. |
PROFESSIONAL FOX
BACK ON BIKE: (Sept 15) Irish cyclist
Morgan Fox has been given the all clear to recommence training. The 26 year old,
who is one of two Irish cyclists racing in the professional ranks this season,
was sidelined in June with a reoccurrence of glandular fever and instructed to
stay off the bike. However, recent medical tests carried out in Trinity
college have shown that the virus has disappeared from his system, enabling him
to begin preparing for a make-or-break 2001 season. 'It is great to be
back on the bike', says the 1997 Irish national champion. 'I am limited to
an hour and a half per day at the moment, but by October I will have brought
that up to two and a half hours. From that point I can start training as normal
for next season.' 
KENNEALLY
GETS TRIAL WITH PROFESSIONAL OUTFIT: Following the signings of Ciaran
Power and Mark Scanlon to the Linda McCartney team in recent times, Kilkenny
cyclist Brian Kenneally has been given the huge boost of a trial with the
professional outfit. 25 year old Kenneally is regarded as one of the best
prospects in Irish cycling, with a number of stunning performances peppered
throughout his amateur career. This year he dominated the second stage of the
FBD Milk Ras and finished second in the national road race championships behind
Olympian David McCann. Kenneally will begin his trial in McCartney colours
on September 15th, with a series of Italian races. A strong performance during
these events would virtually guarantee him a professional contract for next
season. He is also expected to ride on the Irish team in next week’s
Tour of the Peaks in England and in the Herald Sun Tour in Australia in
October.
SCANLON TO
TURN PROFESSIONAL WITH LINDA McCARTNEY:
19 year old Sligoman cyclist Mark Scanlon has signed a one year contract with
the Linda McCartney squad, and will turn professional next season. Scanlon
is regarded as the most talented Irish cyclist to emerge in two decades, a
accolade which he underlined by winning the junior world championship in
Valkenburg, the Netherlands in October 1998. His move to the burgeoning British
squad follows the signing of Waterford’s Ciaran Power last autumn, and
coincides with a team expansion which aims to qualify the vegetarian outfit for
the Tour de France in 2001 or 2002.
UNEXPECTED
OLYMPIC PLACE FOR TARJA OWENS: After the confirmation of a
professional contract for Mark Scanlon earlier today, Irish cycling has got
another boost with the announcement of an Olympic place for moutainbike rider
Tarja Owens. Owens was listed as a reserve for the Elite women’s
cross-country event, narrowly missing qualification last season, but since some
of the countries awarded selection have opted not to travel to Sydney she has
been given the nod by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). She joins
Ciaran Power, David McCann (Elite men’s road race), Deirdre Murphy (Elite
women’s road race) and Robin Seymour (Elite moutainbike cross-country event)
on the squad. Interestingly, the 24 year old is both Helly Hansen
team-mate and girlfriend of Seymour.
INJURED
SEYMOUR PULLS OUT OF EUROPEAN MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS: Mountain bike
rider Robin Seymour today suffered a blow in his preparation for the Sydney
Olympics when he was forced to pull out of the European championships in Rhenen,
Holland. The 29 year old went into the race with hopes of a top-twenty
finish, but back problems led to him wheeling to a halt on the fourth lap.
Seymour had fallen in an English event last week, hurting his back, but had
hoped it would be symptom-free today. Seymour is travelling back to his
base in England and will receive treatment from physiotherapist and former Irish
professional cyclist Martin Earley on Tuesday. He will dispute the final world
cup in Lausanne, Switzerland on September 3rd before flying out to Sydney.