Irish aim for the top

CYCLING: One week after the hard-fought international clash in the Rás Mumhan, Irish riders have an opportunity to avenge their defeat this weekend when they line out in the world-ranked Archer GP in Buckinghamshire.

An Irish team comprising of VC La Pomme's Tommy Evans and the Cidona Carrick Wheelers trio of Martin O'Loughlin, Timmy Barry and Eddie O'Donoghue have been named, while Eddie Keogh and Paddy Moriarty will represent the Carrick club in the race.

National champion David McCann has also entered and will ride with the Northern Ireland team. Despite the dominant form shown by the Compensation Group trio of Kevin Dawson, Mark Lovatt and John Tanner in Kerry last weekend, Irish riders are hoping to figure in the top placings and will be inspired by Evans' podium finish 12 months ago. One in-form cyclist who has opted not to travel is Paul Griffin. He took three second, one third and a fifth place on stages of the recent Tour of Saudi Arabia and finished 11th overall, but despite the good performance has opted to back off after his exertions.

Griffin attracted some attention from the Colstrop professional team during the Saudi event and is aiming to land good results later in the season; the FBD Milk Rás and international events in Belgium this summer have been identified as his main targets.

The FBD Milk Rás race organiser, Dermot Dignam, has revealed that a challenging finishing circuit will meet the riders at the end of the first stage to Ballinamore.

The final 10 kilometres will run alongside the Shannon-Erne waterway on what he describes as "an extremely narrow road, which was once the Cavan-Leitrim railway line".

"It will be a stunning stretch of racing, 200 riders on a road that at times is only wide enough to take three abreast," said Dignam.

One rider likely to be at the head of that field is David O'Loughlin, who has impressed since turning professional with the Ofoto-Lombardi sports team this year.

It is uncertain whether O'Loughlin will compete with the American squad or Mayo Wheelers in the FBD Milk Rás, but the event is a major goal for him this season.

O'Loughlin is back in Ireland on a short break at the moment and will be contesting the Ben McKenna memorial race in Balbriggan this Sunday.

FIXTURES

Saturday: Leinster Cycling Federation handicap race, Roundwood. Starts 11 am. Mooney Cup, Sligo. Starts 1 pm.

Sunday: Ben McKenna Memorial, Balbriggan. Starts 11.30. Kelly Pharmacy road race, Dungarvan. Starts 1 pm. Markievicz Cup, Sligo. Starts 1 pm.

Wednesday 10th: Intervarsities road race championships, University College Galway. Contact Mil O'Duffy at ucdcc_at_hotmail.com for details. Women's Cycling meeting, Portlaoise. All welcome. Details available from Cycling Ireland at 01-8551522.