While the revelations that Karl Donnelly and Jason Crowe were found to have used banned substances to assist performances in the Tour of the Mournes and Tour of Armagh respectively caused considerable concern in Irish cycling circles an even more damaging case will be disclosed soon as the FIC were notified that a medical test on a member of the team that represented Ireland on international duty in a Spanish stage race in July was also positive.
Where has been no official announcement from FIC headquarters but, until one is issued, all those who were on that team are under suspicion and a statement should be issued naming the rider. Some are obviously unblemished as they have been named for other assignments but the situation must be cleared up without further delay.
Apparently any suspension or whatever punishment is meted out must be done by the federation in whose jurisdiction the event is promoted and the FIC are waiting on a further announcement from Spain.
Another Irish team of Ciaran Power, Aidan Duff, Michael McNena, Brian Kenneally, Paddy Moriarty and Dermot Finnegan will contest the Hessen Rundfahrt race in Germany next week. It starts on Monday at Frankfurt and ends in Weisbaden on Sunday week, with Joe Smyth the manager, and afterwards five of them will represent Ireland in the under-23 world road race championship in San Sebastian on October 11th.
The Mid-Eastern Region's league continues tomorrow morning on the circuit behind Dublin Airport with David Peelo in a clear lead. The veterans association have cancelled their 100 miles time trial listed for Sunday because of insufficient entries and a 34 miles road race will be held instead at Batterstown (10.0).
The Mid-Eastern Region mountain bike championship is down for decision at Ballinastoe Wood, near Roundwood, on Sunday, promoted by Sorrento, at noon. The national championship will be at Rosenallis on September 28th. On National Bike Day on Sunday, sponsored by Specsavers in aid of the National Council for the Blind, a wide range of outings are planned at various venues and Sean Kelly will lead the one at Galway. The plan is to have a family spin of about 10 miles with leisure rides of up to the 50 miles mark.
Michael Fitzgerald of Premier, Clonmel, has signed on with the Belgian team Tonissteiner-Saxon and will be on trial with them until the end of the season.
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