Clarke looks best for the overall honours

With another strong visiting challenge it will be difficult for a member of the Ireland team, or any of the 18 county selections, to register a 10th successive home win in the FBD Milk Ras which starts tomorrow. Main hopes rest on the Ireland side, particularly national champion Ray Clarke, who is number one of the 165 listed. Two changes had to be made to the original selection as the 1996 Ras winner Tommy Evans had to withdraw because of work commitments while Aidan Duff cried off when an operation was required on the elbow he injured in a fall in the Tour of Ulster last Sunday week.

David O'Loughlin was switched from Mayo to deputise for Duff at number four and 37-year-old Philip Cassidy, Ras winner in 1983, was nominated by national team director Richie Beatty to move from the Meath team and take the place of Evans. The others in green jerseys are Eugene Moriarty and Paddy Moriarty, although a new size five jersey is required for Cassidy.

Ian Chivers is the only other Ras winner involved. He was successful in 1990 and, now 32, he rides with Dublin Orwell. He won the Ulster championship last Saturday and his main objective is a first stage win.

Of all those on county teams Brian Kenneally, who will be in the Wicklow colours at number 164, has the best chance. His decisive victory in the Shay Elliott memorial race at Bray on Sunday was his eighth win of the season.

Wicklow also have Stephen O'Sullivan and Carlow are led by Paul Griffin. Despite Cassidy's promotion, Meath are strongly represented and so too are Armagh.

The visiting opposition consists of representatives from Holland, Belgium, Estonia, Egypt, France and Wales - the Germans are not coming - with a composite USEurope selection, six regional English sides and a team from the British trade squad Linda McCartney.

Ciaran Power is not trying for a repeat of last year's triumph, the British Prutour has been his main aim this season and it starts the day the Ras ends. Micheal Fitzgerald, who has won five stages in the last three years including the final one each time, also bypasses the Ras in favour of the British event.

Clarke missed the Tour of Ulster as he had a bad cold after going to the Tour of Majorca with his squad. He was a stage winner in the Tour of Rhodes, won the Jim McQuaid memorial race in the Phoenix Park and took two stages in the Tour of the North while second overall to Evans. However, he was obviously not fully recovered last Sunday when he was over four minutes behind Kenneally in fifth place at Bray.

Morgan Fox, Irish champion two years ago, leads the Belgian team again while Sigvard Kukk returns to head the Estonia challenge. The Egyptians are led by Amr El Nady, winner of the Tour of Egypt, but we will have to wait and see the strength of the teams from France and the Netherlands. The Linda McCartney representatives, led by Jon Clay, can be expected to figure prominently. British under-23 champion Richard Hobby is on the Lincoln team but the international selections should have the greater strength in depth and despite the enforced changes Ireland may have the edge. Clarke sets out as the team leader but, depending on how things go over the first few days, they will support each other. Clarke looks best for overall honours. Stage one tomorrow is over 94 miles from Dublin (12.0) to Waterford with bonus sprints at Naas, Kilcullen and Borris - five seconds for the leader at each point down to one second for fifth. Sunday's second stage of 104 miles to Charleville includes the climb at The Vee.

Monday's 88 miles is to Killaloe with another 88 miles on Tuesday to Ballinrobe and 107 miles to Sligo on Wednesday.

There is a transfer on Thursday to Donegal for the start of stage six of 89 miles to Killybegs, including Glengesh Pass. There are plenty more climbs to be encountered on next Friday's 100 miles to Cootehill and 103 miles to Drogheda the next day. It all ends on Sunday week, like last year, on the Dublin city centre circuit up and down O'Connell Street and around Parnell Square.