MICHAEL FITZGERALD registered a great victory for the Ireland team yesterday morning when he took the penultimate stage of the six-day Ruban Granitier race in France and he followed up with second place in the afternoon final stage.
Fitzgerald, from Clonmel, Irish champion in 1995, failed by just two points to win the overall points classification with his excellent last day flourish.
Philippe Bresset of the Gan team was the overall winner with David McCann, riding for his French club, Pontivy-Festina, fourth 33 seconds behind.
The Tour of Ulster over the weekend provides good preparation for those going in the FBD Milk Ras and with such a strong visiting contingent coming for the big nine-day event which starts tomorrow fortnight, the three days of competition at Fintona and Enniskillen should be fully availed of.
Tomorrow's opening stage starts at Fintonaa at noon and the circuit of 80 miles takes in Clogher, Emyvale, Aughnacloy, Castlecaulfield and Pomeroy hill, with the finish back in Main Street, Fintona.
The scene then switches to Enniskillen, and stage two on Sunday morning (9.0) is a five miles time trial. They start again at 2.0 for a circuit of 73 miles through Derrylin, Ballyconnell, Belturbet, Clones, over the first category Carnmore mountain and then Fivemiletown and Tempo with the Garvary Hill three miles from the finish in Enniskillen.
The final stage on Monday takes a different route from Enniskillen (10.30) over Doagh Mountain around by Garrison and Belcoo, Blacklion Mountain, Glengevlin, Bellavally Gap, Swanlinbar, Ballyconnell and back into Enniskillen to finish at Drumawill on the Derrylin road.
The Bohermeen club's Waller Cup provides racing for all grades at Greetiagh on Sunday.
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