Deignan signs for French outfit

Cycling News: Promising Irish amateur Philip Deignan is the latest Irish rider to secure a professional contract, the 20-year-old climber signing a deal to race with the French Ag2R Prevoyance team next season, writes Shane Stokes.

Deignan showed his ability with a storming win in the recent Ronde de l'Isard stage race, an under-23 World Cup event held last month. He is consequently an excellent third in the under-23 world rankings and will be one of the favourites for the European Championships this summer.

The Donegal rider is following in the wheel tracks of Mark Scanlon, who two years ago transferred from the same amateur VC La Pomme team to Ag2R. Scanlon has not yet confirmed if he will be staying with Ag2R next season but, if so, the prospect of two gifted Irish professionals in the same colours is genuinely exciting.

Meanwhile, in mountain biking, Olympic hopefuls Jenny McCauley and Tarja Owens will this weekend find out which of them will be taking part at Athens 2004.

The two riders will line out at Fort William in Scotland, the final event in a three-race World Cup series which is being used as qualification criteria for the single Olympic cross country place secured.

Following the World Cups held in Madrid and Houffalize over the past two weekends, McCauley is four points ahead of Owens because of her better placings in both races. Owens, who competed in Sydney 2000, must beat McCauley by at least four places in Scotland this weekend if she is to take part in her second Olympics.

On the subject of points, Mark Scanlon's two excellent wins in 1.3 races in Estonia last week have moved him up to 115th in the latest Elite world ranking tables. The Sligoman took 120 UCI points in two days, virtually guaranteeing his place in the Olympic road race and also greatly enhancing his chances of being selected by his Ag2R Prevoyance team for the Tour de France this year.

He is the highest-ranked rider since Seán Kelly and Stephen Roche and is close to entering the list of the world's top 100 riders, despite being just 23.

Scanlon's points haul has also had the effect of helping Ireland move up to 30th in the world rankings, a long-term aim of Cycling Ireland. Two places for the World Championships will be secured if Ireland is still 30th or better on August 15th.

SATURDAY: Tommy Given Memorial, Hillsborough, noon. Cycling Ulster underage time trial championships, Richill, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY-MONDAY: Dunboyne Three-day. Stage one starts 2.30 pm. Cycling Ireland Track League, Sundrive, Kimmage, accreditation 10.30am, racing starts at 11.

SUNDAY: Noel Taggert Memorial Banbridge (Classic league event), noon. Connacht XC League, round one, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, noon.