Deignan tipped for slot in world Elite road race

Cycling: With the world road race championships starting in less than two week, Cycling Ireland will announce on Monday the line-up of the Irish team for Stuttgart.

A change to the qualification process, plus a drop in the number of world ranking points, means Irish riders will have a reduced squad this time round. Last year three took part in the Elite road race; this time, just one will be able to ride.

Philip Deignan has been showing excellent form in the Vuelta a España, taking 12th and 16th on mountain finishes earlier this week. He's seen as favourite for the slot, with Nicolas Roche and Páidí O'Brien also on the shortlist.

Either Roche or David McCann will do the Elite time trial, while one of Siobhán Dervan, Julie O'Hagan and Jenny Fay will do the women's road race. It is uncertain if Cycling Ireland will enter a rider in the women's time trial due to the severity of the course.

Ireland will also have three riders in the under-23 road race. Daniel Martin has been in strong form all season and his climbing ability means he is a logical choice. So too Mark Cassidy. The third slot will go to either Isaac Speirs, Derek Burke or Ronan McLaughlin. They are competing in a hilly race in Belgium this weekend and the decision will be made after that.

Deignan was 67th in yesterday's mainly flat stage of the Tour of Spain, crossing the line as part of a main bunch led home by Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi. The Italian took his second successive stage win.

The Irish Ag2r Prévoyance rider ended the day 68th overall, 44 minutes and 51 seconds behind race leader Denis Menchov (Rabobank).

Meanwhile, Nicolas Roche will return to racing when he lines out in Paris-Brussels tomorrow. He's been in strong form this season but hasn't competed since withdrawing from the Tour of Ireland due to an infected saddle sore. The Crédit Agricole rider was finally able to resume training last Monday week. After Paris-Brussels, he will ride the Grand Prix Fourmies on Sunday, GP Wallonie on Wednesday, the Tour de la Somme next Friday and GP d'Isbergues on Sunday week.

"I'm not sure if I can get back into shape in time for the world championships. We will see," he said.

Finally, Noord Holland junior rider Marit Huisman emerged as the overall victor in the 2007 ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan on Sunday.

The Dutchwoman finished just behind final stage victor Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) in the 20-rider gallop to the line in Kilcullen. Huisman ended the international race three seconds clear of Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) and Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW).

Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/BDBC) finished fourth on the final stage and was best Irishwoman in sixth overall.

Saturday: TGP Duane Delaney Memorial track omnium, Sundrive Road, 11.30am. Ulster XC Championships (incorporating fifth round of Ulster League). Dunmore Mountain, near Ballynahinch. First races at 11.30.