Pursuit team wait on Worlds place

CYCLING NEWS:IRISH RIDERS hoping to compete in the team pursuit at the World Track Championships in Poland are expected to find out today if they will get a place in the event.

David O’Loughlin, David McCann, Paul Healion and Martyn Irvine have made steady progress of late. In January they broke their Irish record of four minutes 15 seconds for the 4,000-metre distance, clocking 4:13.09 at the Beijing World Cup. This earned them seventh place there.

Then, one month ago, the riders went even quicker, posting 4:11.587 and netting fifth in the Copenhagen round.

The team have a world ranking of 11th despite riding just two out of the five rounds.

The Irish Times understands that the top 20 teams are automatically granted a place at the worlds. However, a complication exists in that the UCI also have a rule stating that each country needs to have had participants in at least one event at four of those World Cups.

Cycling Ireland (CI) appealed this on financial grounds and hope to get a wildcard slot.

“The guys are continuing their preparation to be ready for a late call-up, and so another track camp in Aigle is planned for next week,” said CI chief executive Geoff Liffey yesterday.

“Either way, the intention is to keep the lads together much more this summer and to hit the ground running at the start of the next campaign for 2009-10. There was some time lost due to a transition of personnel in the (high) team and some uncertainty for a period over funding.”

Whatever happens with regards to that team pursuit berth, O’Loughlin is certain to travel to Poland for the worlds. He finished sixth in the individual pursuit last year, and was third and second in the two most recent rounds of the World Cup. If he is in peak form, he could well contend for a medal.

In other news, Cycling Ireland was this week allocated €445,000 by the Irish Sports Council for their high-performance programme, an increase of €40,000 on 2008.

A total of €211,000 was also allocated to 18 riders under the 2009 carding scheme, some of them competing in Paralympic competition. David O’Loughlin, Cathal Miller, Catherine Walsh and Joanna Hickey were each earmarked for €20,000, while Connor McConvey, Nicolas Roche, Philip Deignan, Daniel Martin, Siobhán Dervan, David McCann, Michael Delaney, Enda Smyth and David Peelo are set to receive €12,000.

Developmental squad riders Seán Downey, Sam Bennett, Páidí O’Brien and Ronan McLaughlin will each get carding of €5,000, and junior squad rider Dominic Jelfs will receive €3000. The pursuit squad could potentially secure carding at a later date.

Finally, Cycling Ireland president Micheál Concannon has been elected to the eight-man management committee of the European Cycling Union (UEC).

The Kerryman has said his goals are to raise the profile of the federation in Europe and to work to stage a European championship here during his term.

FIXTURES: Tomorrow:John Moore Memorial, Lough Moss, Carryduff, 10am. Sunday:Djouce MTB Challenge, Djouce Woods; Mick Cahill Memorial, Banteer, call 022 47274 for details; Traders Cup, Dundalk, first race 10am; Connacht training race, Bohola Community Centre, 10.30am. Monday:Closing date for women's training camp. Call 087 6119637 for details.