PAT McQUAID is taking a break for the next few weeks from his work on next year's Irish start to the Tour de France to concentrate on the organisation of the Junior Tour in August, sponsored by the League of Credit Unions. And he expects to have a strong representative line-up again.
There have been small fields for recent junior races - there were only 13 at Navan last Sunday - but that is mainly because of exams. McQuaid will be contacting all of the 110 juniors registered with the FIC in the hope of enticing the majority to take part.
McQuaid has been assured by Britain's new road racing coach Robert Millar, that a BCE team will be in again after missing out last year. McQuaid is also to continue discussions with Spanish and Dutch officials about them having teams in too.
With the world junior championships on at the same time as the seniors, at San Sebastian in October, the second half of the season is more important and the Junior Tour comes at a good time to launch world title preparations.
The Tour of Wexford is on tomorrow and Sunday, though juniors are excluded, and Maryland Wheelers promote the 25-mile time trial championship on the Belfast Airport Road tomorrow morning.
After switching with the Meath Grand Prix last week, Cuchulainn have their McArdle trophy races on Sunday at Dundalk, and the Thermo King 50-mile time trial is on from Clifden to Galway.
