Giro d'Italia start for Deignan

CYCLING:HAVING RIDDEN well in his Grand Tour debut last season, Philip Deignan will continue his progression as a pro cyclist when he starts the three-week Giro d'Italia this weekend.

The 24-year-old Ag2r La Mondiale competitor finished 10th, 12th and 16th on stages of last year's Tour of Spain and was a solid 71st overall. He had a tough start to this season but more recently showed good form in the Giro del Trentino in Italy. He was 20th on the tough 178.6-kilometre mountain leg to Peio Terme and finished 26th overall there.

If his form continues to rise, Deignan's climbing ability means he could register more solid performances in the high mountains.

The Giro d'Italia begins tomorrow with a 23.6-kilometre team time trial in Palermo, Sicily, and then one day later features a hilly leg between Cefalù and Agrigento.

In other news, it has been announced that the Irish Sports Council will once again support the FBD Insurance Rás this year. This contribution will be reflected through the presentation each day of the Irish Sports Council White Jersey to the leading young rider in the best young rider classification.

The competition highlights the most exciting new talent in the race, and provides a valuable pointer as to who will go on to become the future stars of the sport. Last year's winner, Tony Martin, also took the final yellow jersey in the 2.2-ranked event, and this season has been riding strongly as a neo-pro with the High Road Sport ProTour squad.

Race organiser Dermot Dignam has also confirmed that British professional team Plowman Craven will join the previously announced squads in this year's event. FBD Insurance Rás race regular Evan Oliphant will return once again and is expected to be as aggressive as ever.

Oliphant will be joined on the team by 2006 Bikeline Two Day winner Simon Richardson (26), Alex Higham, Tom Barras (both 29) and Craig Maclean (36).

The latter's inclusion on the team is an very interesting one, given that he is a former world and Commonwealth Games team sprint gold medallist. The long stages of the race will challenge his endurance but if he reaches the finish with the front group, few - if any - will be faster than him.

Finally this weekend sees the running of one of Ireland's premier sportif events, the Tour of Ireland Cycling Challenge. The four-day event begins today and runs until Monday.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Friday-Monday: Kellogg's Tour of Ireland Cycle Challenge. Saturday: Youth racing, Ballinrobe Racecourse, 10.30am. Track training, Sundrive road, 11am. Groucho's GP, Richhill, 1pm. Sunday: Noel/Kieran Hammond Memorial Races, Balbriggan, sign on from 10am. Kelly Pharmacy GP, Dungarvan. Races, 12.0pm. IVCA CP Summerhill, 9.15 am. Classic Walls Cup, 1pm.