Kazakhstan to compete in Ras

CYCLING: With the FBD Milk Rás two weeks away, race director Dermot Dignam has confirmed the participation of the Kazakhstan national team. Twelve months ago, they won the King of the Mountains classification and took second in the best international team ranking. Kazakh riders also placed second and third on the toughest mountain stage.

National team director Valentin Rechert has named a strong team drawn from the country's best young riders. Valentin Iglinskiy showed his good form when he won the prologue of the recent Tour of Hellas in Greece, also a 2.5 ranked international event, while Alexandr Dymovskikh, Ivan Andreev,Vadim Vdovinov and Alexandr Dyachenko will similarly be in the hunt for stage wins and overall success.

The Kazakhs are expecting big things, having learned greatly from their debut twelve months ago. "Now that we know the very competitive nature of the FBD Milk Rás we are better prepared," said one team official. "We will be in the reckoning for overall honours."

While the full line-up is yet to be released, five other foreign teams have been confirmed - Germany, Scandinavia, Britain, Wales and the USA.

Shay Elliott Memorial winner David O'Loughlin will line out this Sunday in the 1.5 ranked Lincoln Grand Prix in England. He will be hope to further his Olympic ambitions with a win.

At home, a number of events are on offer for the other riders finalising their preparation. The Noel Hammond Memorial in Ballyboghal will draw possibly the biggest crowd, the tough 84 mile event offering a good pointer to form. Sadly, one who will be missing from the field will be the 2000 winner Brian Lennon. The popular St Tiernan's CC rider passed away suddenly after a training ride on Monday.

FIXTURES: Saturday - Christy McManus Memorial, Roundwood - 11 am. Underage TT Galway - noon. Criterium, Galway - underage event at 3 pm, main race at 7 pm. Cycling Ulster youth racing, Derrymacash, Lurgan - noon. Cycling Ireland track league, Sundrive Road, Kimmage - accreditation at 12.30, racing at 1.30. Sunday - Noel Hammond Memorial, Ballyboghal - 11.30 am. Tour of the Mournes, Newry - noon. Tour of Connemara, Galway - 1pm. Silver Pail GP, Fermoy - 2 pm. IVCA 30 mile TT, Batterstown. 10 am. BCF DH NPS round 2, England.