Cycling Round Up

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.

Not quite as controversially eyecatching as the Acqua e Sapone team launch in January, the presentation of the 2002 team in the Grasshopper Inn, Clonee, on Tuesday nevertheless suggests that Cycleways Lee Strand will be attracting headlines this year. Double FBD Milk Rás champion Philip Cassidy is in promising early-season form, Eugene Moriarty is vying to defend his Rás Mumhan title this weekend and 1998 national champion Ray Clarke is honing his form abroad with some international competition in the Tour of Saudi Arabia. And all have big plans for later this season.

Add riders such as Aidan Crowley, Adrian Hedderman, Philip Finegan, Shane Connaughton and talented youngster Tim Cassidy to that mix and it is clear that the team is one of the strongest, and best organized, in the country today. 'We are hoping to ride well in all the big Irish races this year', team leader Philip Cassidy told the assembled crowd. 'We have a good collection of riders and all get on very well as a team. I think a good season is in store for us.'

The Cycleways team first came about at the beginning of last year when Cassidy and business partner Brian Connaughton - who between them have won three FBD Milk Rás titles - decided to back a squad. 'The reason we started the team was to have fun and to enjoy the sport, and also to win a couple of races', said Cassidy. 'We also thought a well-presented team would be a good billboard for cycling and maybe encourage other sponsors to get involved in the sport. Things went well and now with the involvement of Lee Strand, we are set for a big season in 2002.'

The new backer is a Tralee-based Co-Operative Creamery which are major sponsors of sport in Kerry, lending their support to Bord Na Og, the Kerry Community Games, greyhound racing, soccer and basketball. Lee Strand were previously involved in cycling when they sponsored the victorious Irish national squad in the 1995 FBD Milk Rás.

According to Andrew Kelleher of the company, they are delighted to return to the sport. 'Philip rode with the Irish team sponsored by Lee Strand. He is a very strong rider, very professional in his approach and didn't have to twist our arm very much at all for us to get involved with the Cycleways team'.

The team have outlined Ireland's biggest events as their major goals for 2002, with the this weekend's Rás Mumhan, the Tour of Ulster in May and the world-ranked Shay Elliot Memorial and FBD Milk Rás contests all outlined as targets, along with the National Road Race Championships in Stamullen at the end of June.

Many of these races figure among Cassidy's ambitions for the season; despite turning 40 last October, the double Olympian is still aiming high in 2002. 'I have set some goals this year which I think are realistic. I want to aim for a stage win in the FBD Milk Rás, to ride well this weekend in Munster (Rás Mumhan) and also to try to do a ride in the National Championships in June. I have done very well the last 5 times I have ridden races on that circuit - I have won twice, been second once and finished third on two occasions, so the course definitely suits me. I am also thinking about riding the World Masters Championships in Austria in August, but that depends on how my condition is later in the year.'

Also particularly determined this season is 27 year old Kerryman Eugene Moriarty. 'I would love to defend my title this weekend in the Rás Mumhan. Philip is also going very well so the team have a two-pronged attack in the race. A stage win in the FBD Milk Rás is also a big target - there are a couple of stages around Kerry and that, plus the fact that it is the 50th edition of the race, motivates me a lot'.

Moriarty was one of the most impressive Irish riders in last year's race, rising to the challenge posed by the strong foreign teams attracted by the 2.5 ranking awarded to the event. 'Last year's race was a lot tougher than before but it seemed to agree with my style - it is more like other international events and that suits me better. I am looking forward to this year's Rás, I am aiming for that race and hope then to be able to carry my form until the national championships.'

As for Tim Cassidy, his focus is on long-term development. Last season the young rider won 19 races and then went on to finish an excellent 15th in the World Junior Championships, the best performance since Mark Scanlon's victory in Valkenburg in 1998. This season the talented 18 year old is aiming to settle into the senior ranks, progress as a rider and also to race abroad after he sits the Leaving Certificate. He is also hoping to make the Irish team for the Under 23 World Championships in Belgium.

'I have had a slow start to the year with a knee injury', said Cassidy. 'I haven't been able to do much cycling in the past two months because of it, I have been swimming instead. Hopefully I will be able to get it sorted soon and get back to training - I would like to race abroad this summer and then try to get a place on the team for the world championships. If I get into the race I know I will be working for Mark Scanlon, but that is fine. I want to learn and get more experience.'

'I got a good bit of encouragement from last year's race - I was in a group sprinting for 7th place and think I would have been in the top ten had I not been boxed in for the sprint. But the result proves that perhaps I have a chance of making it in the future - a lot of the pro's have done well in the worlds when they were young, so that is a boost.'

The next few years are all about gathering experience and developing as a bike rider. Fortunately, Cassidy is set to learn much within the Cycleways Lee Strand team. They have got some big goals for 2002, but if the blend of slick organization and good team atmosphere evident at the launch is anything to go by, this season promises to be a good one.

Cycleways Lee Strand team: Philip Cassidy, Ray Clarke, Eugene Moriarty, Aidan Crowley, Tim Cassidy, Philip Finegan, Shane Connaughton and Adrian Hedderman.

Other team sponsors: Terry Dolan Frames, Walden Motor Company, Enervit Energy Drinks, Spinergy Wheels, Specialized Tyres and Saddles, Descente Racing Clothing, DMT Cycling Shoes, Gill Leisure Clothing, Oakley Sunglasses, CardioSport Heart Rate Monitors, Cross Insurances Ltd.