Irish put foot on first rung

CYCLING: It may be many years since an Irishman last took part, but while the Tour de France peloton speeds towards the mountains, Irish cyclists are continuing their own efforts to return to the summits of the sport. The new Team Ireland base is now up and running and more riders are shortly expected to join the four currently living and competing in Belgium.

The goal of the project is to expose cyclists to a level of training and competition which will enhance their chances of international success.

Eugene Moriarty, Martin O'Loughlin, Jonathan Dempsey and Paul Healion are those presently in the base, while 20 under-23 and junior riders will travel over shortly. National road race champion Mark Scanlon and young prospect Denis Lynch are two of those involved.

While Scanlon will not be returning home from France for the under-23 championship on Sunday, Lynch and Dermot Nally will both be at Monaghan and will share the tag of favourite for the race. The championship will be contested over four laps of a hilly circuit, while the veterans and juniors will do one less.

Next Sunday week the national cross-country mountain bike titles will be decided in Kilruddery, with Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens both travelling home to defend their titles. Before then the downhill racers get a chance to secure world-ranking points in the Bray Downhill Challenge tomorrow at Bray Head. Over 120 competitors are expected to line out, including 25 overseas riders.

Finally, Cycling Ireland this week unveiled details of the Hibernian National Bike Week, which will be held from September 1st to 8th.

Intended to promote and develop all aspects of cycling from commuting to competition, the features include a National Bike to Work day on Friday, September 6th, Family Day cycles and a two-day leisure cycle from Dublin to Galway and back.

More details are available from Elsa Connaughton at 8551522 or at www.cyclingireland.org

Fixtures

Sunday: National under-23 junior and veteran championships, Monaghan, 1.0 p.m.; Cycleways Lee Strand GP, Narraghmore, Co Kildare (under-age races start at 11 a.m., other categories at 1.0 p.m.); Kevin King Memorial Leisure Cycle, Donore Road, Drogheda, 10.0 a.m.; IVCA 50 mile TT, Enfield, 9.0 a.m.