Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: June 2001 Pantani gives evidence in drug inquiry: (June 29) Leading Italian cyclist Marco Pantani appeared as a witness today before an inquiry into the doping scandal which surrounded this year's Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy). Read the Full Story in the Irish Times >> SCANLON TAKES, THEN LOSES YELLOW IN FRENCH RACE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 25) Irish cyclist Mark Scanlon enjoyed brief glory in the under 23 Tour des Alpes de Haute-Provence, leading the race by four seconds after he rode consistently in the first three stages. Scanlon placed fifth on the opening leg behind Mickael Buffaz of the VC Bressan team, and was in the top ranks again in the 3rd stage time trial of 20 kilometres when he was fourth. However his chance of winning the race evaporated in the mountains of the fourth and final stage, the young race leader losing contact with the front runners on the second climb of the day and losing over ten minutes by the finish. He will nevertheless line out as one of the favourites for this Sunday's National Road Race championships in Lurgan. CLARKE WINS STEPHEN ROCHE GP: (By Shane Stokes Jun 20) Classic Walls NCBI rider Ray Clarke proved best at the end of today's Stephen Roche Grand Prix in Dundrum, decisively outsprinting Phil Cassidy (Cycleways) and Shane Prendergast (Cahills Naas) in the final 300 metres of the high speed circuit race. The three riders also monopolized the bulk of the primes during the 26 lap contest, with junior rider Tim Cassidy (Usher IRC) also profiting well in this regard, taking the first three bonuses after the under 18 entrants were granted a head start. The high speed and aggressive riding evident during the race ensured an early regrouping, after which a flurry of unsuccessful attacks took place. However, Clarke, Cassidy and Prendergast then managed to draw clear on the tenth lap, riding well together and eking out a good advantage over the disorganized chasers behind. Riders such as Brian Lennon (St. Tiernans), Simon Whelan (McNally Joinery - Swords) and Greg Swinand (Usher IRC) all attempted to get across, but with the trio up front sharing out the primes equally they had every reason to remain dedicated to the cause. Building up a maximum lead of 15 seconds, the advantage started to decline as the race entered its closing stages and with four laps remaining it looked as if the trio would be recaptured. However, as Lennon, Whelan, Brian Ahern (Classic Walls NCBI) and Stuart Gibson of the promoting Orwell club tried in turn to bridge the gap, and failed, the leaders drew ahead again and took the bell with a comfortable lead. Prendergast led out the sprint from 300 metres out, with Cassidy taking over closer to the line. However, Clarke was sitting comfortably on his wheel and darted clear in the final 50 metres to take a comfortable, and impressive, victory. Usher IRC's Colm Bracken led the bunch home two seconds later, pipping Cassidy's Cycleways team-mate Aidan Crowley and former Dundrum resident Paul Doyle. Colm Farrell (Navan Avonmore) was best of the Senior 2 riders, ahead of Joe McGill and Justin McGee of the Finglas Ravens team, while Cassidy was best junior. Results: 1, Ray Clarke (Classic Walls NCBI) 26 laps in 46 mins 29 secs; 2, P. Cassidy (Cycleways) same time; 3, S. Prendergast (Cahills Naas) at 1 sec; 4, C. Bracken (Usher IRC) at 2 secs; 5, A. Crowley (Cycleways); 6, P. Doyle (unattached); 7, M. Maguire (GSM); 8, A. Hedderman (Cycleways) all same time. Junior: Tim Cassidy. Senior 2: Colm Farrell (Navan Avonmore); 2, J. McGill (Finglas Ravens); 3, J. McGee (Finglas Ravens) SEYMOUR WINS AMERICAN RACE: (By Shane Stokes Jun 18) Olympic mountain bike rider Robin Seymour enhanced his chances of securing a team for the remainder of the season when he won the 4th round of the SRAM New England Series in Vermont. Despite tough opposition, the national MTB cross-country champion forged clear of the field with four others at the start of the race and then pressed ahead alone at the half-way point of the four lap race. He eventually finished one and a half minutes ahead of series leader Luis Francisco of the Trek team. Seymour's next race is the West Virginia round of the Norba series this weekend, with two American rounds of the World Cup scheduled in the coming weeks. <More MTB News Here>
The decision is a major vote of confidence in the newcomer who has little experience in racing on-road but nevertheless has managed to secure the slot ahead of more experienced team-mates. According to Owens, a good ride in the Italian event would also secure a slot in the women's Tour de France later this year. Further encouragement for the women's scene in Ireland, which for years has been neglected but now is starting to progress. Next Tuesday evening the new handicap league begins at 7.30 in Batterstown with a ten kilometre time trial; open to all, national road manager Pauline McKay hopes that the series will bring more women into the fold. Track racing, too, is set for a resurgence. It has been announced that the Irish Cycling Federation have been awarded a grant of £57,000 by the Department of Tourism and Sport to develop the Sundrive Road facility, with the money likely to go into refurbishing a premises, purchasing some track bikes and improving the velodrome itself. An ideal discipline to introduce people to the sport, and a highly-skilled and dramatic wing of cycling, this grant will help greatly in developing this area, The ICF track commission will hold an open meeting this Saturday in Smithfield to discuss such matters. All are welcome to attend. One of the biggest touring events of the year takes place this Sunday when the IVCA Wicklow 200 winds its way over some of the most challenging terrain in the county. Leaving the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght at 7 am, the riders will travel along a route to Sally Gap, Glendalough and over the Wicklow Gap. The shorter 60 mile challenge then heads back to Tallaght, while the more ambitious will continue on a route which takes in Slieve Mann, Rathdrum and Glenmacnass before finishing back at the Basketball Arena. For more details contact Dick O'Brien at 01 4558216. Finally, entries are due in today for the national road race championships in Lisburn, with a surcharge of £5 payable on all applications after this date. Contact Cormac McCann for details at at 048 90270342. FIXTURES Sat 16: John McCormack Grand Prix, Clonee. Starts 11am ICF track commission meeting, Chief O'Neill Hotel in Smithfield. All welcome, starts 3 pm. Contact the ICF at 8551522 for information. Sun 17th: Meath Grand Prix, Navan. Underage starts 11 am, senior, junior and women starts 1.30 pm. Wicklow 200 and Wicklow Gap challenge. Starts National Basketball Arena, Tallaght at 7 am. Tuesday 19th: Womens RR handicap league, Batterstown. Starts 7.30 Wednesday 20th: Stephen Roche GP, starts Dundrum Shopping Centre at 7. 30.
Meanwhile fellow professional David McCann continues the build up to the defense of his title this Sunday in the 1.4 Schynberg-Rundfahrt event. He finished in the main bunch in the Swiss GP Winterthur on Monday. McCann's Ireland team-mates from the FBD Milk Ras, Morgan Fox, Tommy Evans, Aidan Duff and Mark Scanlon also compete abroad on Sunday when they dispute the prestigous Ronde de St Quentin race in Northern France. The Irish octet is completed by Eugene Moriarty, Paul Griffin, Michael McNena and Ray Clarke, who impressed in the FBD Milk Ras. However, the leading Irish rider David O'Loughlin is a notable omission from the team. Scanlon is, according to his agent Frank Quinn, likely to limit his racing abroad to Irish team duties for the immediate future. The 20 year old is known to be dissatisfied with his Nantes 44 squad, but with a mid season transfer impossible he has opted to compete in domestic events rather than rejoin the club. How this will affect his proposed guest slot with the Mercury squad is unknown, but racing here is undoubtedly not the best preparation for a step up to the professional ranks. In contrast, Irish women's road race champion Geraldine Gill is thriving in France. Last Sunday she finished second in a 60 kilometre event in Breic de Lodet then finished one and a half minutes clear of the field on Monday's race in Pluvigner. The odds of more Irishwomen racing abroad in the future have been enhanced by the announcement of a midsummer domestic league, starting with a 10 mile time trail in Batterstown on June 19th. Further information is available from Pauline McKay at 087 2651718. Finally, Sean Kelly will make a presentation on the development of elite cyclists tomorrow at the NCTC national coaching forum. For details contact the ICF at 01 8551522. FIXTURES: Sun 10: Kevin McInerney Memorial, Dunlavin. Starts 1 pm. Thomas Sheehan Memorial, Carrick on Suir. Starts 1 pm. McArdle Trophy, Dundalk. Starts 1 pm. IVCA 48 mile, Summerhill, starts 10 am.
The professional teams, the Deutsche Telecom under 23 squad and the essentially pro Great Britain side, with which some of its riders earn up to £23,000 sterling each year, snaffled up most of these UCI points. But this country nevertheless was nevertheless amongst the biggest winners by virtue of the fact that the national tour now a successful, well-run, fully-fledged international event. 'Exciting, full of suspense and much more professional' was the general verdict amongst most observers. Organiser Dermot Dignam was similarly emphatic, expressing satisfaction with the 49th edition of the race. Yet while he welcomes the higher standard of foreign competitors, he is quick to quash rumours that category 2 riders might ultimately be excluded. 'There is no truth at all in that, they are as much a part of the race as anyone else. I think we have a good balance now, a level which will bring Irish riders on nicely in time.' Although many home competitors felt that this was their toughest FBD Milk Rįs, the different style of racing plus a delayed start to the competitive season are two factors which must be considered. Yet despite the latter, home based riders David O'Loughlin and Paul Griffin performed commendably against the professionals to place in the top ten; Paddy Moriarty, in 14th, was also impressive. Their better showings suggest that the preparation of some of our foreign-based riders should be examined and modified for next year's race. Indeed the stage wins of David McCann and Mark Scanlon were highlights of an otherwise modest campaign by the Ireland Shannon Oaks side, although Morgan Fox rode well before injury ruled him out. Of the other Irish, Ray Clarke, Eugene Moriarty and Philip Cassidy stand out due to their willingness to take the fight to the foreign riders during the week. Commendable rides too, by Carlow Dan Morrissey and Kerry's Matthew Slattery, who were dominant winners in the county team and second category classifications. Two other performances are worth highlighting: Michael Hamilton of the Down Duncrue team finished the race despite his diabetes and complications with the team when the manager went home. Dublin Orwell rider Ronnie Brannigan completed his first FBD Milk Rįs at 39 years of age, bravely soldiering on despite being dropped in the early miles of many of the stages and finishing, finally, over five hours behind winner Paul Manning. Reaching Dublin at the end of a particularly tough week is an indication of their courage. · Sean Kelly will make a presentation on the development of elite cyclists next Saturday at the NCTC coacing forum. For details contact the ICF at 01 8551522. · Entries close on Monday for this year's Wicklow 200. Contact Dick O'Brien for details at 4558216. FIXTURES: Sat 2: Dunboyne 3 day stage 1, Dunboyne. Starts 2.30 pm Sun 3: Dunboyne 3 day stage 2, starts 10 am. Stage 3 starts 2.30 pm Davis Cup, Ballina. Starts 1 pm Munster CF RR champs. S, J, V, W, U/A. Starts Kanturk, 11 am Monday 4: Dunboyne 3 day stage 4, starts 1 pm |
OWENS
FOR WOMEN'S TOUR OF ITALY: (Jun 15) Four months after she began a
professional road racing career with the Michela Fanini team, Irishwoman Tarja
Owens looks set to make history when she lines out in the prestigious women's
Tour of Italy on July second. The Olympic mountainbiker, who this year switched
to road racing in order to prepare for Athens 2004, has been handed a slot in
the two-week race which is disputed by the top teams over some of the toughest
terrain in Italy.
POWER
TO RETURN FOR RR CHAMPS: (by Shane Stokes June 8) Following the crash
one month ago which left him with a broken collarbone, Irish professional
cyclist Ciaran Power has indicated that he will return to competition in the
Irish road race championships on July 1st. Power was involved in a bunch finish
pile up during the Four Days of Dunkirk race and since then has been limited to
cycling on an indoor trainer. Although this means he will not have the physical
condition to challenge for victory in the Irish champs, Power states that the
race will be an important stepping stone to regaining full fitness.
MIXED FORTUNES FOR IRISH
IN FBD MILK RAS: (Jun
1) Two stage wins, one day in yellow and two riders in the top ten overall. A
very different race than other editions, the FBD Milk Rįs brought mixed success
for the Irish contingent, with the final haul of 27 world-ranking points out of
a possible 177 less than might have been hoped for.