Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: April 2002
With just today's stage remaining, Duff is still just 20 seconds off the race lead in the prestigious event and will go all out to try to improve his position. Elsewhere in France, disaster struck the Irish team in yesterday’s 6th stage of the Circuit des Mines when the team’s leading riders Mark Scanlon, David O’Loughlin and Stephen Gallagher were forced to pull out after falling ill with the flu. Scanlon will be particularly disappointed as he had placed 4th earlier this week and had realistic hopes of taking a stage win; he was also in an excellent 11th place overall in this tough pro-am race. The disappointing news comes on the heels of the withdrawal of Brian Kenneally on Tuesday due to knee trouble, which was incurred in a crash on the first stage. 'It was a bit of a disastrous day for us', said team manager Morgan Fox afterwards. 'Mark, David and Stephen all caught the bug which is going around - I have it myself and it is pretty terrible dose. Mark and David were both going well and we had thought that a stage win was possible. As for Brian, he got an awful whack on the first day when he came down and his knee was giving him a lot of trouble. It is hard when you are not 100% right here - the racing is really, really hard. We told him to stop as his knee was getting worse and there was no point in doing some big damage.' Martin O'Loughlin and Paul Griffin are the sole Irishmen left in the race, which ends with two split stages today. Ruban
Granitier stage 5: 1, Christophe Cousinie
(France Police) 3 hours 48 mins 18 secs; 2, N. Dumont
(CC Etupes) at 2 secs; 3, B. Legrix (Normandie) at 47
secs; Other: 21, A. Duff (Panorimmo 23) same time Overall:
1, Cousinie 18 hours 55 mins 12 secs; 2, Dumont at 8
secs; 3, Y. Le Boulanger (Panorimmo 23) at 18 secs;
other: 4, Duff, at 20 secs PROFESSIONAL POWER TO LEAD IRISH TEAM FOR FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes Apr 24) In an unexpected move, professional cyclist Ciarán Power will take a brief break from racing with the American Navigators team to head the Irish national squad in the 2.5 ranked FBD Milk Rás next month. The Waterford rider has not ridden the race since winning the tour in 1998 but the world-ranking points on offer plus the transformed nature of the event have both proved a big draw for the 25 year old, who is keen to pit his strength against the strong international field. Power’s inclusion on the squad is also of vital importance to the Irish team, given the strength of the foreign riders who now take part in the gruelling 8 day contest. It is almost three years since an Irishman last won the FBD Milk Rás, and with the best home rider back in 8th place last year, the higher standard is obvious. ‘I am looking forward to coming back and riding the Rás’, he said. ‘Everyone is telling me that the race has changed a lot since I won it, so it will be interesting to get in there and see how it goes. Hopefully I will be challenging for the overall…the Rás is a very unpredictable race but I am certainly in good form this year.’ Power has been riding strongly since joining up with the Navigators team earlier this season. He was a fine fourth in the recent French cup race, the Grand Prix of Rennes, and seems back to full fitness after a 2001 season disrupted by injury and the Linda McCartney team collapse. ‘Ciaran is definitely strong enough to win the race’, said Ireland team manager Declan Byrne. ‘He is as good as any of the international guys coming over and he is very, very consistent in stage races. He never misses a move. I am expecting great things from the team in the race - we have a very strong selection and they will all work very well together.’ Joining Power on the strong Irish national squad will be former world junior champion Mark Scanlon, who has been in impressive form this season. His VC La Pomme team-mate (and former FBD Milk Rás winner) Tommy Evans is also returning from France to don a green jersey, while Paul Griffin – who finished 9th in the race last year – and Timmy Barry complete the promising line-up. Power will prepare for the FBD Milk Rás by riding a series of tough professional events with his Navigators team in Europe. These include the 4 days of Dunkirk race, in which he broke his collarbone last year. Meanwhile Paul Griffin and Mark Scanlon will build up towards the May 19th start by participating in the French Circuit Des Mines race which starts on Friday. Martin O’Loughlin, Brian Kenneally, Stephen Gallagher and US-based professional David O’Loughlin complete the 6 rider line-up. Irish teams:
POWER RIDES WELL IN BELGIUM: (By Shane Stokes Apr 25) Irish professional cyclist Ciarán Power has underlined his continuing good form with a strong ride in the 1.1 ranked Grand Prix de l'Escaut race in Schoten, Belgium yesterday. At the end of the hotly-contested 205 kilometre event, 85 riders came to the finish together, where Power sacrificed his own chances to lead out team-mate Oleg Grishkine in the bunch sprint. Grishkine went on to finish 5th, crossing the line in the same time as race winner Robbie McEwen (Lotto) while Power had enough speed left to carry him over the line in 15th place, thus earning more valuable world-ranking points. The Irish pro was confirmed yesterday as leading the Irish team in the forthcoming FBD Milk Rás. He will contest a number of races in Europe with the Navigators squad before returning to Ireland for the May 19th start.
POWER TAKES STAMULLEN GP: (By Shane Stokes Apr 21) Victorious in Saturday’s Brendan Carroll Memorial, US based Irish pro Ciarán Power (Navigators) today took his second win of the weekend with an impressive finishing sprint at the end of the Stamullen GP. In the uphill dash for the line, Power led home Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond) and fellow US pro David O’Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) at the end of the tough 72 mile race, held on the same tough circuit as will be used for the national road race championships in June. The three riders were part of a 14 man breakaway which went clear on the first of six hilly twelve-mile laps. By the halfway point the group had two minutes advantage over the main field; shortly afterwards, on the fourth ascent of the daunting Snowtown Hill Power, O’Loughlin, Griffin, Dave Gardiner (Apollo) and Cycleways-Lee Strand duo Eugene Moriary and Phil Cassidy forged ahead and swiftly opened a lead over the others.
‘It is great to win on this circuit today’, said Power afterwards. ‘I haven’t done very well in the national championships in the past but hope to put things right this year; riding strongly on the same course today is encouraging. Hopefully things will go well between now and then – I have a lot of important races with the team and should be in good form by the end of June’. Griffin, too, was happy afterwards. 'The form is quite good, it was a tough race today. The Collstrop team showed an interest in me after the Tour of Saudi Arabia and seemingly they will be keeping an eye out at the Circuit des Mines next week. I am hoping to do a good ride there - this restult today is a bit of encouragement.' <See Pictures Here> Stamullen
GP: Senior 1 (Joey Whyte Memorial Cup): 1,
Ciarán Power (Navigators) 72 miles in 2 hours 55 mins;
2, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond); 3, D. O’Loughlin
(Ofoto – Lombardi Sports) both same time; 4, E.
Moriarty (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 3 mins 1 sec; 5, P.
Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 4 mins 51 secs; 6, D.
Gardener (Apollo) same time; 7, C. Murphy (McQuaid Tyres
Emyvale) at 6 mins 20 secs; 8, D. Peelo (Usher IRC) same
time; 9, B. Keneally (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 8
mins; 10, K. McMahon (Earl of Desmond) same time IVCA 41 mile DMS, Clane: (Apr 21) Race 1: 1, Liam Keenan (Orwell Wheelers) 1
hour 42 mins 26 secs; 2, S. Weston (Dublin Wheelers); 3, B. Redmond (IVCA) both
same time; 4, J. Cassidy (DPC First Legal) at 36 secs; 5, R. Brannigal (Orwell
Wheelers); 6, P. Halpin (McNally Swords) SUCCESS FOR SCANLON IN FRANCE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 22) Mark Scanlon made the best possible defence of his team’s lead in the French South East third division championship when he took the second race in the series on Sunday. Scanlon came to the finish of the Hauteville-Bourg-Hauteville event with Nicola Roux (Evian Velo) and Sébastien Massa (VS Hyères), and outsprinted the two to land his second victory in the series. He also won the opening Les Monts de Luberon race one month ago. Scanlon’s VC La Pomme team-mate Denis Lynch rode well to finish 5th, 1 minute and 28 seconds back, while Tommy Evans came home 17th as part of the main bunch 3 minutes and 8 seconds down. ‘Myself and a couple of other riders got away before the finish and I had no problem keeping it together for the sprint’, Scanlon said. ‘My form has been good for the past two and a half months – I am riding the Circuit des Mines, which starts on Friday, so I am hoping to take a stage in that’. Meanwhile, national road race champion David McCann has had to delay his racing debut with the Volksbank Ideal pro team because of illness. McCann had been due to ride the Tour of Greece with the Austrian team, but had to cancel these plans when he contracted a chest infection after the Tour of Mallorca. The luckless Belfastman was then struck down with a severe bout of gastroenteritis, leading to two days in bed. He is hoping to return to competition shortly. PROFESSIONAL POWER MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN: (By Shane Stokes Apr 21) Home on a brief break from competing with his Navigators team in Europe and America, Irish professional Ciaran Power made a triumphant return to domestic racing on Saturday when he won the Safelink Brendan Carroll Memorial in Stamullen. The victory was Power’s first in two and a half years, with his last win occurring back in 1999 when he took the final stage of the Tour of Hokkaido. Power and fellow US pro David O’Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) were in the thick of the action from early on, racing ahead as part of a five man breakaway which went clear on the second of five six mile laps. Also present were Dave Smith (Cahills Naas), Robert Moore (Stamullen M. Donnelly), and the promising junior rider Paudi O'Brien (Kanturk). Moore punctured on the third lap, and shortly afterward Power blasted clear on the ascent of Cottage Hill. O’Loughlin calmly waited until the Navigators rider opened a good lead and then jumped across the gap, building a commanding lead over those chasing behind. Somewhat predictably, Power was the fastest at the finish in Stamullen. Two years ago he took fifth and sixth in stages of the Tour of Italy, and more recently he placed 4th in the Grand Prix of Rennes French Cup race; clearly he was the fastest of the two on paper, and so it proved in the dash to the line. ‘It is great to win again’, says Power. ‘It has been quite a while…it is a good feeling. I have been going well lately and this is good encouragement for the races ahead.’ Safe Link Brendan Carroll Memorial: 1, Ciaran Power (Navigators) 30 miles in 1 hour 12 mins 22 secs; 2, D. 0'Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports); 3, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond) at 56sec; 4, C. Bracken (Usher IRC); 5, D. Smyth (Fig Rolls Naas) both same time Senior 2: Dan Nulty, (Stamullen Martin Donnelly); Senior 3: Derek Cunningham (Bray Wheelers CC); Junior: Paudi O'Brien (Kanturk); Woman: Marica Attorresti (Cycleways Lee Strand); Veteran: John Bell (Classic Walls) STAMULLEN – M. DONNELLY TEAM LAUNCHED: (By Shane Stokes Apr 15) Fresh from their strong ride in last weekend’s Beggan Trophy in Bohermeen, where they placed 4 riders in the top 12, the new-look Stamullen Road Club was unveiled last night at a team launch in the Glenside Hotel in Julianstown. <Read More Here> 2001 FBD MILK RAS CHAMPION AIMING TO DEFEND TITLE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 16) FBD Milk Rás organiser Dermot Dignam has announced that the 2001 champion Paul Manning is returning to defend his title in this year’s race, which begins on May 19th. Manning was the first English winner in the history of the event and with the backing of an impressively strong Great Britain team, is vying to take the 50th edition of the Irish tour. His bid will be backed by team-mates Chris Newton, Steve Cummings, Tim Buckle, Bryan Steel and Simon Jones, a squad which is strong and experienced enough to pose a serious challenge. The task for the Irish riders aiming to take the Golden Jubilee edition of the race has been made more difficult with the news that a strong foreign entry is travelling in the hunt for precious world-ranking points. Dignam has confirmed that riders from 12 different countries will take part, attracted by the race’s reputation and its 2.5 ranking on the UCI International calendar. Further details will be announced shortly as to the identities of those teams. The 2002 FBD Milk Rás starts in Dublin on May 19th and features stage finishes in Ballinamore, Nenagh, Castletownbere, Midleton, Arklow, Baltinglass. The final stage will take place in the Dublin area on Sunday 26th May.
(By Shane Stokes Apr 14) American-based professional David O’Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports) dominated last week’s Ben McKenna trophy but cracked close to the end; today, however, a more conservative approach saw him emerge as the clear winner at the end of the Beggan Trophy in Bohermeen. On the second of seven ten-mile laps, the first significant break of the day went clear when Colm Farrell (Navan Avonmore), Laurence Roche (BH Racing Team) and Les Jeunes duo JP Hilliard and Mark McLeavy slipped away. These were rejoined by four chasers several miles later – Martin O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers), Colm Bracken (Usher IRC), Tony Brady (Navan) and Conor Murphy (McQuaid Tyres – Emyvale) and, while others later got across, these riders formed the core of the day’s action. The fourth lap saw an unusual pursuit when a horse bolted and ran close behind the front group for a mile and a half, but it was two laps later before a more organised chase made contact. O’Loughlin, Phil Cassidy (Cycleways – Lee Strand), Tom Hughes (Stamullen – M. Donnelly) and Simon Kelly (Galway Bay CC) closed a gap of over one minute to latch onto the leading group, and shortly afterwards O’Loughlin forged clear with Bracken and Murphy in tow. The Mayo rider attacked repeatedly on the run-in to the line and with one mile remaining, decisively jumped clear and opened up a winning gap. Bracken outsprinted Murphy for second, while Martin O’Loughlin was fastest of the next group home. ‘It is good to get the win’, said O’Loughlin afterwards. ‘I decided to take it a bit easier today than last week – I have had a tough week training in order to build up for big races with the team next month, and so was a bit tired going into the race. I realised after last week that big gaps can be closed towards the end so there was no panic when the group went up the road. Myself and Phil Cassidy got a chase organised and we were able to get across to them all right.’ O’Loughlin plans to ride in Stamullen next weekend, but is a little unsure as to whether he will make it to the start line of the Shay Elliot memorial. ‘I really want to do it as it is a good race – it suits me pretty well and I know the climbs. There are also world ranking points on offer so that is important too. The one complication is that my team are going to ride the Tour of Gila in Mexico next month and they want me to go over soon and get used to the altitude. I will be talking to them this week about it, but hopefully I will be able to do the Shay Elliot before travelling over.’ Meanwhile in Cork, Kieron McMahon of the Earl of Desmond team won the first running of the Mick Cahill Memorial Cup. McMahon was part of a 6 man group which reeled in leading duo Richie Cahill and Vincent Gleeson with just 2 miles remaining, and outsprinted Aidan Crowley and David Nugent to take the win.
Beggan Trophy, Bohermeen: 1, David O’Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports) 70 miles in 2 hours 50 mins 20 secs; 2, C. Bracken (Usher IRC) at 15 secs;3, C. Murphy (McQuaid Tyres) same time; 4, M. O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 40 secs; 5, Phil Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand); 6, J. P. Hilliard (Les Jeunes); 7, C. Sweetman (Stamullen – M. Donnelly); 8, S. Kelly (Galway Bay CC); 9, T. Hughes (Stamullen – M.Donnelly) all same time; 10, R. Moore (Stamullen – M. Donnelly) Senior 2 race (60 miles): 1, Eugene Murtagh (Ravens); 2, P. Deignan (Total cycling.com); 3, B. Harte (Bohermeen); 4, P. Teehan (Team Fig Roll-Naas); 5, A. Moran (Finglas Ravens); 6, M. Nulty (Stamullen – M.Donnelly); 7, T. Cassidy (Cycleways-Lee Strand); 8, B. Hammond (Usher IRC) Senior 3/Junior/Veterans/Women (40 miles) : 1, Dave Rawlings (Usher IRC); 2, J. O’Brien (Kilcullen); 3, T. Lavery (DPC First Legal); 4, S. Enright (Usher IRC); 5, D. Cunningham (Bray Wheelers); 6, S. Kennedy (Avonmore Navan) Women: 1, Marie Reilly (Bohermeen); 2, R. O’Connell (Bray Wheelers) Unplaced prizes: 1, Andrew McQuaid (Emerald CC); 2, K. Daly (McNally Swords) Veteran: Mick Rock (McNally Swords) Under 16: 1, Danny O’Connor (Kanturk CC); 2, A. Coyle (Shannonside); 3, T. Jensen (Sorrento CC); 4, M. Nestor (Shannonside); 5, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers); 6, A. Petrie Armstrong (Northern CC) Under 14: 1, Gavin Browne (Kanturk CC); 2, I. Spears (Navan Avonmore); 3, C. Enright (Kanturk); 4, D. Ward (Usher IRC); 5, A. Henry (Usher IRC); 6, G. McNally (McNally Swords) Under 12: 1, A. Lynch (Kanturk CC); 2, N. Rock (Swords); 3, E. Leahy (Kanturk CC); 4, J. Saunders (Kanturk CC); 5, S. Enright (Kanturk CC); 6, L. Keane (Kanturk CC) Mick Cahill Memorial Cup: 1, Kieron McMahon (Earl of Desmond); 2, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand); 3, D. Nugent (Western Lakes); 4, J. O’Shea (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 5, J. Lacey (Earl of Desmond CC); 6, R. Cahill (Banteer CC) Senior 2 race: 1, Gary Sheehan (Limerick); 2, F. Cahill (Banteer CC); 3, D. Twomney (Banteer CC); 4, B. Lynch (Leeside); 5, G. Ellis (St. Finbarrs CC) Junior race: 1, Eoin Concannon (Killorglin CC); 2, C. Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 3, P. O’Brien (Kanturk CC); 4, B. Woods (Killorglin CC); 5, I. Ormond (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) Senior 3: 1, Conor Bartley (Fermoy CC); 2, T. Woods (Cork); 3, J. O’Dwyer (St. Finbarrs CC); 4, P. J O’Halloran (Duhallow Wheelers CC); 5, K. Smith (Autoview CC) Veterans: 1, Kevin O’Leary (St. Finbarrs CC); 2, W. Ormond (Autoview); 3, S. McIlroy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) Cookstown Spring Classic, Drum Manor: 1, Denis Easton (Total Cycling.com) 72 miles in 2 hours 38 mins 50 secs; 2, W. Byrne (Kilcullen CC) at 10 secs; 3, C. Murphy (McKenna Fireplaces Emyvale); 4, D. Gardiner (Apollo CRT) all same time; 5, N. Campbell (unatt.) at 32 secs; 6, S. Turner (Bann Valley CC); 7, J. Bell (Classic Walls); 8, J. McConnell (Kings Moss); 9, C. Shortt (Newry Haldane Fisher); 10, W. Hamilton (East Antrim Audi), all same time. Vet: N. Campbell; Junior: Turner; 2nd cat: W. Hamilton Castlereagh Grand Prix, Carryduff: 1, Ryan Connor (Ballymena Scott RC) 60 miles in 2 hours 31 mins 46 secs; 2, F. Duncan (Northern Dave Kane) at 57 secs.; 3, L. Kirk (Ards CC) same time.; 4, N. Campbell (unatt.) at 1 min 52 secs; 5, S. Turner (Bann Valley CC); 2, G. Wilson (East Antrim Audi) same time; 7, S. Gallagher (Orchard Whs.) at 1 min 55 secs; 8, E. Crory (Newry Haldane Fisher) same time; 9, G. Kinning (XMTB) at 2 mins 1 sec; 10, P. Ferguson (Toyota North Down) same time. 1st unplaced vet.: Crory. 1st unplaced Senior 2: Kinning; 1st 3rd cat.: B. Gormley (Harps CC). IVCA 47 mile cp, Summerhill. 1, Sean Lally (McNally Swords); 2, P. Schweppe (Orwell Wheelers); 3, J. McSherry (Newry Wheelers); 4, L. Keenan (Orwell Wheelers); 5, H. Davis (Usher IRC); 6, J. Lally (Dublin Wheelers)
National road race champion David McCann finished safely in this group and is best placed of the Irish riders in 16th place overall, 41 seconds in arrears of race leader Sergi Escobar of Spain. He remains second in the mountains classification and is also lying in third place in the intermediate sprints competition. Tommy Evans is 8th in the points ranking. The 2.6 ranked race continues tomorrow with the penultimate stage, a 145 kilometre race from Son Ferriol to Alto de Cura. Elsewhere, Ciarán Power finished 25th in today’s Grand Prix Pino Cerami race in Belgium. The one day event was won by his Navigators team-mate Kirk O’Bee and marks his second success in less than a week. Last Sunday O’Bee won the Grand Prix of Rennes, in which Power placed an excellent 4th. EVANS TAKES 3rd ON STAGE OF TOUR OF MALLORCA: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) Northern Ireland Team rider Tommy Evans placed a fine 3rd on the second stage of the Tour of Mallorca yesterday. Evans showed his sprinting speed in a hectic bunch finish, which was disputed by 81 other riders and won by Italian rider Ivan Fanelli of the Grassi-Mapei squad. Evans’ team-mates Brendan Doherty and David McCann were next best of the Irish riders, placing 18th and 27th respectively. Timmy Barry also finished in the front group, while Ray Clarke (93rd), Mark Kiernan (109), Eugene Moriarty (111th), Keith Gallagher (112th), Paul Kane (136th), Paul Healion (143rd) and Shane Prendergast (144th) were further back. David McCann remains best placed of the Irish overall, lying in 16th place going into today’s third stage. The national road race champion is 41 seconds behind race leader Sergi Escobar of the Spanish National Team. He is also second in the mountains Boost for Power: (By Shane Stokes Apr 11) His confidence buoyed by an excellent fourth place in Sunday's Grand Prix of Rennes, Irish professional Ciarán Power is highly motivated for this weekend's programme of racing. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>
Sproule took top honours again in yesterday’s NCAT circuit race, while Manning sprinted home in the same time to take fourth place. ‘Saturday was a criterium in Auburn, Alabama,’ said Manning. ‘It is a race on the national road calendar here. My team mate Tracy Sproule was a minute up the road and I won the uphill sprint finish for 2nd place, ahead of Rebecca McClinntock of Serotta with the rest of the bunch 1 second behind’. ‘Sunday was a circuit race in the same town, a 1.7 mile lap on an enclosed track. The wind was very tough and my team were trying to get up the road all day but with the other big teams there nobody could get away. With three laps to go I led out for the prime, which my team mate won, and that gave us a small gap on the field. We were caught again and then just waited for the sprint. It was a tough flat finish with a headwind... I managed 4th place behind my teammates (1st and 2nd), with Iona Winters of the Genesis pro team taking third’. Next up for Manning is the curiously-titled ‘Come See Me’ criterium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday. She will also ride a road race there one day later.
The Irishman showed his finishing speed in the finale of the 190 kilometre event, a 1.3 ranked contest which is part of the French Cup series. Despite the presence of more established teams such as Lotto, Credit Agricole and AG2r in the race, his Navigators team took four of the first five placings, with Kirk O’Bee and Vassili Davidenko topping the podium, Power netting 4th place and Oleg Grichkine next home. 'It is a very good ride by Ciarán’, says his agent Frank Quinn. ‘It is probably his best result as a pro since his two top ten placings in stages of the Tour of Italy in 2000. He was in a break early on in the race but managed to hold something in reserve, and so was able to get up there again at the end. Ciaran will be encouraged by that as it shows he is in good form – the important thing now is to get more results like that this year. He needs the points, and his team needs the points’. <Read More on this by Gerard Cromwell Here> GOOD RIDE ATTRACTS COLLSTROP'S ATTENTION: (Apr 7) Paul Griffin had an impressive ride in the recent Tour of Saudi Arabia, taking three second, one third and a fifth place on stages of the 2.5 ranked race and finishing 11th overall. Griffin, who is racing for the Earl of Desmond team this season, says that the performance led to some inquiries from the Collstrop professional squad and so he is highly motivated to land more good results. He has pinpointed FBD Milk Rás and international events in Belgium later this summer as his main targets for 2002. EVANS 7TH IN ARCHER GP: (By Shane Stokes Apr 7) Tommy Evans was best of the Irish today in the 1.5 ranked Archer GP in Buckinghamshire. The Team Ireland rider placed a fine 7th in the event, crossing the line as part of a 12 man chasing group which finished 47 seconds behind New Zealander Gordon McCauley (RDM Flanders) and Kevin Dawson of the Compensation Group team. The leading duo had raced ahead inside the final 15 miles and steadily drew clear, with McCauley outpacing Dawson at the finish to repeat his win of last year. While Evans couldn’t match his third place of 2001, team manager Declan Byrne was nevertheless satisfied with today’s showing. ‘The goal was to have either Eddie O’Donoghue or Martin O’Loughlin in the early breaks, with Tommy and Timmy Barry to wait until a bit later on. I thought that it would probably take Tommy a while to get going, and it worked out fine; there was a break early on and both Eddie and Martin got into that, then after that was brought back Martin was in the next two that went away.’ Evans made his move as the race finished three laps of a 20 mile circuit, with 52 of the 118 miles remaining. ‘He went clear as the race headed towards the smaller loop’, said Byrne, referring to the 6 mile finishing circuit which the riders covered 7 times. ‘McCauley and Dawson went away with two laps to go and steadily opened the gap; Tommy was in a group of 12 riders who were chasing behind and was 5th in the sprint. Timmy, Martin and Eddie all finished in the main group, so I was happy with their performance today – it was a good ride by the team’. <Full Report & Pictures by Gerry McManus Here> SCANLON IMPRESSES IN FRENCH CUP RACE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 7) Former world junior champion Mark Scanlon marked up yet another good result on his 2002 scorecard when he was third in the Prix Des Coteaux D’Aix event in Puyricard, a Division 1 Mavic Cup event. The VC La Pomme rider bridged across to the leading group inside the final 25 kilometres and then jumped clear with 3 others on a long drag with 10 k to go. ‘Four of us went across the top ahead’, he said, ‘and then one other guy got across to us on the descent. From then until the finish we rode well, but with one kilometre to go Stefan Petilleau of VC Roubaix slipped away and won the race.’ Scanlon was outsprinted by Erki Putsep (EC St Etienne-Loire) in the dash for the line, finishing three seconds behind the winner, with Sylvain Lavergen (AVC Aix) next home. ‘I am happy with my form’, he said afterwards. ‘I am riding well and this is a good result for the team – it is a big race for us’. Fellow VC La Pomme rider Denis Lynch was 38th, finishing in the core of the main group some 32 seconds behind the winner, while Aidan Duff (Panorimmo-23) was 1 minute and 30 seconds down in 49th place.
With three laps of the rolling 14 mile circuit remaining, a 23 man chasing group were two minutes and 15 seconds in arrears, while defending champion Phil Cassidy looked the worse for wear further down the field. Cassidy’s Cycleways Lee Strand team-mate Eugene Moriarty made a bid to reel in the flying O’Loughlin one lap later, but with the Kerryman two minutes and ten seconds down and the bunch at three minutes, it appeared that the Mayo professional was set to record what would have been arguably the most impressive Irish victory this year. However, it was not to be; as Cassidy came around and started carving his way through a tiring field, O’Loughlin’s previously smooth style started to falter and his speed dropped. Halfway through the final lap he tetained just 50 seconds of his advantage over Cassidy, Kilcullen’s Willie Byrne and Andrew Donnellan of Dublin Wheelers. Two miles later, that lead was gone and as his chasers tore past, a shattered O’Loughlin ground to a halt. Cassidy kicked for home as the group entered Balbriggan for the final time, opening up a sizeable lead and coasting up the finishing straight to take his second consecutive win. Byrne outsprinted Donnellan for second, while Kieran McMahon (Earl of Desmond) outpaced Criag Sweetman (Stamullen – Martin Donnelly) to take fourth. ‘I have a cold, my chest and head were hopping before the race and I was seriously thinking about not riding’, admitted Cassidy after the finish. ‘But I have to do some promotional work for the Blazing Saddles next week and so decided to start, as I may not get to race next Sunday.’ ‘I felt pretty rotten early on and nearly pulled in a few times. I was going to just do a few easy laps with Anita (his wife) but decided each time to keep going. It actually worked to my advantage as I was fresh from sitting in the bunch all day, so when I started to come around I had something left in my legs.’ ‘I started passing groups in the last 2 laps and knew I was going well as I wasn't out of the 11, 12 and 13 sprockets. I knew we were gaining on O’Loughlin but couldn’t believe how quickly he came back to us at the end – he must have been really tired. Myself, Willie Byrne and Andrew Donnellan got across to him with about 6 miles to go, and then on the long drag before Balbriggan I got clear and went away.’ ‘I don’t know what David (O’Loughlin) was at, attacking so early’, said Cassidy, then added with a smile: ‘It is the kind of thing I would have tried 20 years ago’. Ben McKenna Memorial, Balbriggan: 1, Phil Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) 80 miles in 3 hours 18 mins 9 secs; 2, W. Byrne (Hillcrest) at 14 secs; 3, A. Donnellan (Dublin Wheelers) same time; 4, K. McMahon (Earl of Desmond) at 35 secs; 5, C. Sweetman (Stamullen-Martin Donnelly) same time; 6, E. Moriarty (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 1 min 55 secs; 7, R. Moore (Stamullen-Martin Donnelly); 8, T. Hughes (Stamullen-Martin Donnelly); 9, M. Kiernan (Naas-Fig Rolls); 10, S. Bracken (Usher IRC) all same time Senior 3/juniors/veterans: 1, B. Duncan (Dave Kane-Northern CC); 2, A. McQuaid (Emerald); 3, S. Turner (Bann Valley); 4, J. Heraty (Staggs Lucan); 5, T. Lavery (DPC First Legal) Women: 1, Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC); 2, M. Attorres (Cycleways Lee Strand) Unplaced veteran: 1, Seamus Kennedy (Navan Avonmore); 2, M. Nulty (Stamullen) Unplaced junior: 1, Eddie Smith (Ards CC) Unplaced C: 1, David Farrell (Hillcrest); 2, J. O’Brien (Hillcrest) Under 16: 1, Stephen McKenna (Balbriggan CC); 2, A. Petrie Armstrong (Northern CC); 3, M. Nestor (Shannonside CC); 4, A. Coyle (Shannonside CC); 5, P. McMahon (Bray) Under 14: Simon Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 2, I. Spiers (Navan RC); 3, A. Henry (Usher IRC); 4, G. McNulty (McNally Swords); 5, M. Furphy (Lurgan RC) Under 12: N. Rock (Swords CC); 2, P. Lavery (DPC First Legal); 3, P. Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 4, C. Farrell (Hillcrest) IVCA 48 mile DMS, Ashbourne. Race 1: Shay Weston (Dublin Wheelers) 2 hours 10 mins; 2, R. Brannigan (Orwell) same time; 3, M. Burke (Stagg Lucan) at 6 mins; 4, D. Woods (Usher IRC); 5, M. McKenna (IVCA); 6, J. Lally (Dublin Wheelers) all same time Race 2: Jimmy Stagg (Stagg Lucan) 2 hours 11 mins; 2, P. Halligan (Obelisk); 3, A. Ebbs (Usher IRC); 4, P. Schweppe (Orwell); 5, T. Kavanagh (Orwell); 6, L. Maguire (McNally Swords) all same time Race 3: 1, K. Simms (IVCA) 2 hours 33 mins 17 secs; 2, P. Conway (IVCA); 3, R. Norgrove (Dublin Wheelers); 4, P. Fitzsimons (Navan Avonmore); 5, B. Mills (IVCA); 6, N. Lynch (Navan Avonmore) all same time Kelly Pharmacy road race, Dungarvan: 1, Brian Kenneally (Carrick Cidona Wheelers); 2, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond C.C); 3, T. Fanning (unattached); 4, F. Cahill (Banteer C.C) S3 /J/V event: 1,K. 0'Leary (St. Finbarr's C.C); 2, I. Ormond (Carrick Cidona C.C); 3, G. 0'Dwyer (St. Finbarr's C.C); 4, K. Smith (Autoview C.C) Under 12: Anthony Lynch (Kanturk C.C); Under 14: Jeremiah 0'Sullivan (Killorglin C.C); Under 16: Shane 0'Halloran (Duhallow Wheelers C.C) Markievicz Cup, Sligo: 1, Vincent Gleeson (West Clare C.C); 2, S. Kelly (Galway Bay C.C); 3, S. McIlroy (Carrick Cidona C.C); 4, C. Murphy (Emyvale McQuaid Tyres C.C); 5, P. Sweeney (Avonmore Navan R.C); 6, R. Whelan (Avonmore Navan) Veteran: Dessie Woods (Western Lakes C.C); Junior: Michael Holland (Emyvale McQuaid Tyres C.C); Senior 3: Simon Duignan (Galway Bay C.C) Under 12: E. Scanlon (Sligo C.C); Under 14: J. Nugent (Western Lakes C.C); Under 16: B. Cawel (Castlebar C.C) Irish aim for the top in Archer GP: (By Shane Stokes Apr 5) One week after the hard-fought international clash in the Rás Mumhan, Irish riders have an opportunity to avenge their defeat this weekend when they line out in the world-ranked Archer GP in Buckinghamshire. Read the full story in the Irish Times >>
The random tests will be carried out in collaboration with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), with the majority to be held between now and August in order to prevent some riders from using drugs in their preparation for the sports' three-week tours and the one-day classics. UCI president Hein Verbruggen has said that the average hematocrit (red blood cell) level in the peloton last season was measured at 44 percent, a level which suggests that EPO use is diminishing. Previously, a 50 percent cut-off limit was regarded as pointing to probable use of the banned hormone, which acts by stimulating red cell production in the body and thus enhancing stamina.
The sole change in the top ten placings of the general classification was Tim Ahern’s jump to eighth place overall, overtaking Killorglin rider Barry Woods and, more importantly, capturing the final stage with a storming solo ride. The UCD rider went clear with Leinster’s James Lawless inside the final 20 miles, forged ahead alone shortly afterwards and reached the finish line 42 seconds clear of Frank O’Leary of Usher IRC. Ahern’s team mate Alan Lane rode well to take 3rd place, a further 2 seconds back, DPC First Legal’s Alan Slevin was 4th and Brendan Harte of Bohermeen won the bunch sprint for fifth. <Read More Here> <See Pictures Here> <Download Interview with Paudi O'Brien 1.6Mb> <Download Interview with Sean Kelly 2.6Mb> <Download Interview with Sam D'Arcy 5.9Mb> <See MPEG Videos of Finishes> <Read Dave Walsh's Race Report> Cycleways target top races: (By Shane Stokes Mar 29) Launching this year's line-up at a slick, well-organised presentation this week, the Cycleways Lee Strand team have targeted big goals for 2002. Read the full story in the Irish Times >> CYCLEWAYS LEE STRAND TEAM LAUNCH: (By Shane Stokes Mar 28th) Official launches have, of late, become pretty slick affairs. The presentation of the squad for the 2001 world championships, the launch of Cycling Ireland and, most recently, this week's unveiling of the Cycleways-Lee Strand team were all well organized, impressive functions which underline the more 'professional' approach now taken to the sport in this country. <Read More Here> |
Cassidy and Gardiner were the first to feel the pinch,
faltering on the next ascent of Snowtown. One lap later
Moriarty suffered the same fate, leaving Griffin against
the two professionals on the run-in to the finish. The memory of the previous day’s sprint
defeat fresh in his mind, O’Loughlin repeatedly tried
to jump clear of Power but had little luck. Each surge
was countered by the Navigators rider, with Griffin
close behind; O’Loughlin then sealed his fate when he
led out the uphill sprint, paving the way for an easy
victory from Power and an encouraging second-place
finish for Griffin, who himself has hopes of landing a
pro contract.
O’Loughlin
wins Beggan Trophy:
MORIARTY
9th ON 3rd STAGE OF TOUR OF MALLORCA:
(By Shane Stokes Apr 12) National team rider Eugene
Moriarty was the best placed of the Irish cyclists on
today’s third stage of the Tour of Mallorca, finishing
9th in the bunch sprint which decided the 144 kilometre
leg to Santa Margarita. The Kerryman reached the finish in the same
time as the German winner Sebastien Siedler, with Tommy
Evans close behind in 15th place.
MANNING
IMPRESSES NEW TEAM: (By Shane Stokes Apr 8) Lorraine Manning showed
she is settling in well with her new Atlanta Velo team in America by taking two
top five placings in circuit races last weekend. On Saturday Manning won the
bunch sprint of the Auburn Criterium in Alabama to finish second in the event,
with her team mate Tracey Sproule taking the win.
POWER
RIDING HIGH ONCE MORE: (By
Shane Stokes Apr 7) Ciaran Power recorded one of his
best results yet as a professional when he finished an
excellent 4th in the Grand Prix of Rennes today.
CASSIDY
DEFENDS BEN MCKENNA MEMORIAL TITLE: (By Shane Stokes Apr 7) US
professional David O’Loughlin showed his strength today with an impressive,
but ultimately futile, race-long attack in the Ben McKenna Memorial in
Balbriggan. The Ofoto Lombardi Sports rider went clear with Usher IRC duo Dave
Peelo and Shane Baker on the opening lap of the 80 mile race and, having
dispatched his companions several miles later, quickly opened up a two minute
lead on the chasing bunch.
UCI
TO STEP UP OUT-OF-COMPETITION TESTING:
(By Shane Stokes Apr 5) In a response to requests from
cycling teams and individual riders, the International
Cycling Union (UCI) has promised to step up
out-of-competition drug testing for EPO and other banned
performance boosters.
O’BRIEN WINS DUBLIN SKIP
GOREY 3 DAY; AHERN
TAKES FINAL STAGE (By
Shane Stokes Apr 1) Overnight leader Paudi O’Brien
today won the Dublin Skip Gorey 3 Day race, finishing
safely alongside all his main rivals in the main bunch
at the finish near Blessington. The 58 mile stage from
Gorey back to Dublin was run off in difficult cold and
wet conditions but as anticipated beforehand the Kanturk
CC rider had no major difficulties in protecting his
sizeable lead.