Hopes high for Ireland pair

Cycling: On the eve of the 2005 Tour de Langkawi, David McCann and Paul Griffin, second and sixth respectively in the recent Tour of Siam, and Team Ireland manager Cian Lynch have each said they are hoping for good performances over the next 10 days of racing.

The seven-man Irish team will take on some of the world's top riders but, confidence boosted by an aggressive performance last year, they are hoping to perform respectably against the professional squads.

"David and Paul have ridden this a couple of times so they know what to expect," said Lynch yesterday. "This year's line-up is perhaps the best ever, but they are not feeling intimated by that. Although there are bigger division names here, they (McCann and Griffin) have already a race under their belt while the other teams are literally only warming up to the season.

"David was second in the Tour of Siam; he's on top of his form going into the race and is expected to take a decent result in the overall. Paul is also going well and will be aiming for a good showing.

"Of the other riders on the team, Paul Healion and Sean Lacey will be aiming to get up there in the sprints, while Stephen Gallagher, Páidí O'Brien and Roger Aiken will probably end up helping David and Paul Griffin," he said.

Griffin, after a winter of good training, said: "I was going well in the Tour of Siam and it was good preparation for the Tour de Langkawi. I think I will be looking to try to get into a break during the week and get up on a stage."

McCann is planning to take it day by day. He went close to winning the Tour of Siam but feels it was his experience rather than his fitness levels which helped achieve second place overall.

"I am a little like I was before last year's race," he said. "I don't know what to expect. But it will be good if I can get up here again like last season and so get a few more points for the team in the Asian Continental Tour rankings."

The Malaysian tour begins today with a flat race around the island of Langkawi. A bunch sprint is the most likely conclusion to the 107 kilometre stage.

TOUR DE LANGKAWI 2005: Stage 1, January 28: Langkawi - Langkawi, 106.9 km Stage 2, January 29: Kangar - Kepala Batas, 171.6 km Stage 3, January 30: Gerik - Tanah Merah, 172.5 km Stage 4, January 31: Bachok ITT, 20.3 km Stage 5, February 1: Kota Bahru - Kuala Terengganu, 163.9 km Stage 6, February 2: Kuala Berang - Cukai in Terengganu, 152 km Stage 7, February 3: Maran - Raub, 167.7 km Stage 8, February 4: Kuala Kubu Bahru - Genting (97.9 km) Stage 9, February 5: Menara Kuala Lumpur - Putrajaya, 164.8 km Stage 10, February 6: Kuala Lumpur Criterium, 65 km.