The Irish Cycling Federation (ICF) board have not yet filled the vacancies created by the resignations of Dermot Dignam and Paddy Griffin, but following a meeting last Saturday a statement was issued to assure members that replacements will be co-opted as soon as possible. The board members are united in the drive to bring the sport forward and capitalise on the success of Mark Scanlon and bring the strategy plan for the next four to eight years to fruition by next spring. The programme of races for next season is nearly finalised. It starts at Navan on February 28th.
Dignam will be concentrating on organising the FBD Milk Ras, which is from May 15th to 23rd. This clashes again with the Tour of Britain and with very few opportunities of international competition for the older riders, an Irish team is expected to go there again. A stage race is also on at that time for the under-23 category in Portugal and as the Ras is not on Mark Scanlon's schedule in his first season out of junior ranks, he is likely to lead an Irish team in the Portuguese stage race as preparation for the European under-23 championship at Lisbon. Scanlon joins the Dutch Rabobank team in January and, after training with them at Calpe in February, starts racing in March. The Junior Tour is down for August 22nd to 29th, but that may be brought forward a week.
In an effort to maintain interest in the latter half of the season the Classic League will be decided over just five events starting with the championship at Waterford on June 27th.
The other races are the Mayo Grand Prix at Castlebar on July 18th, the Gene Moriarty Classic at Listowel on August 1st, the Tour of Armagh at Lurgan on August 15th and the Matt Corcoran memorial at Naas on September 5th.
The junior championship will be on at the same time as the seniors, promoted by Comeragh, but no club has applied to stage the title races for under-23s, veterans and women, listed for August 22nd. The 10 miles time trial championship will be at Newry on June 12th with Orwell Wheelers promoting the 25 at Batterstown on August 14th.
Dignam is putting the finishing touches to the Ras route but it will start and finish again in Dublin with the finale up and down O'Connell Street and around Parnell Square as it was this year. After going south east first the route goes up into Donegal with several new stage-end towns along the way.
Bray Wheelers have the scene to themselves on Sunday for their annual novelty time trial for teams of two and with the weather so mild a good turn-out is expected. Before setting out each team submits a time they expect to do and whoever is nearest gets the pick of the prizes.
Although the annual Eagle cyclo-cross is not in the fixtures booklet it goes ahead as usual in the Phoenix Park on St Stephen's Day. Balbriggan also have a promotion listed for tomorrow week, a two-up 10 miles time trial. Scanlon's Sligo club have a 10 miles time trial on Monday, December 28th.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)