Junior Tour attracts strong international field

Cycling ColumnA strong international field has been gathered for the 2006 M Donnelly Junior Tour of Ireland, which begins with a two-mile prologue in Castlebar next Tuesday. "We have a good line-up for this year, with riders coming from a long way away," said race organiser Alice Sheratt yesterday.

Those travelling from afar include two US teams, Hot Tubs and Team Bicycle Alley, 10 South African team riders, Tempo Veldhoven and Team Sinnigetam from the Netherlands, plus a Scottish national selection.

A Dave Rainer-fund backed team will travel from Britain, as will the Manchester track team and squads from east and west midlands.

Stena Ireland riders Stephen Halpin, Dennis Dunworth, Conor McAllister and Fergus Keogh will lead the home charge, while riders from the Cycling Ulster line-up and several club teams will complete the 71-man field.

Following the prologue, the race will continue on Wednesday with a 65-mile stage starting and finishing in Westport. The following day the riders will travel 75 miles from Mulrany to Achill Island, then take in a 63-mile stage starting and finishing in Ballinrobe this day week.

The crucial mountain stage sees the field race 68.3 miles from Castlebar to the summit of Windy Gap next Saturday, before the action concludes with a 61-mile race around Castlebar. The riders will be based at Lough Lannagh village during the event.

Before then, there is other stage race action this weekend with the start of the three-day Rás Connachta this afternoon. The opening stage is a 49-mile circuit race based around Cong. A 68-mile road stage and a 3.8-mile evening time trial follow tomorrow, before the concluding 78-mile mountainous road stage on Sunday.

Irish road race champion David McCann plus his Giant Asia Jamijo team-mates Paul Griffin and Stephen Gallagher will fly out to China on Monday to compete against several ProTour teams in the Tour of Qinghai Lake from July 15th to 23rd.

Fixtures: Friday-Sunday - Rás Connachta, Cong. Stage one today, 6pm. Saturday: Sundrive Track racing, Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive road. Racing starts 11am, some bikes available. Sorrento open 10-mile time trial. Starts just south of Newtown Mt Kennedy at 11am. For further details call 087 233 5348. Red Hand Trophy, starts Broughshane 11am. Sunday: Betty Darcy Memorial Race, Gorey. Starts noon. Tommy Givan 50 mile TT. Starts 9.30am near Moira Roundabout on A26 airport road. MAD Dash MTB race, Slade Valley, Brittas, Co Dublin. First race at noon.