Kukk to lead strong Estonian team in Ras

Cycling: Former stage winner Sigvard Kukk will lead a strong Estonian professional team in this year's FBD Insurance Rás, which starts in just over three weeks' time.

The 33-year-old Athens Olympian won the opening stage of the race and finished sixth overall in 1998. He is aiming for another good performance this time round, competing in the colours of the Kalev Chocolate Classic Bicycles squad.

Kukk will be backed by four riders in his bid for Rás glory. Twenty-four-year old Mart Ojavee and 23-year-old Andri Lebedev are two of Estonia's young hopes for the future. Ojavee has been the country's best track rider over the past three years, while Lebedev was sixth in the World Junior Championship in 2000. He was also fourth in the Estonian Road Race Championship last year. The squad is completed by Andrei Mustonen and Mirko Põldma.

The announcement regarding the team's participation further swells the number of overseas squads competing in this year's race. Line-ups from the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Scotland, Wales and the US have already been confirmed, with more due to be announced before the May 22nd start.

Meanwhile, this weekend will offer a valuable pointer to the form of the Irish riders in the run-up to the race with the staging of the Tour of Ulster. The three-day event gets underway tomorrow with a 76-mile road race starting and finishing in Craigavon. Sunday features an 88-mile road race from there to Strabane, while the race climaxes on Monday with two stages. Riders will cross swords in a two-mile time trial that morning, then conclude matters with a 69-mile road race back to Criagavon.

Last year's winner Tommy Evans (Planet X) will be taking part, aiming to repeat his 1998 and 2004 victories. He will face stiff competition this weekend, with Credit Union Rás Mumhan winner John Dempsey (Dan Morrissey Carrick), runner-up Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland), former Rás winner Andy Roche, plus Giant Asia professional Paul Griffin amongst the long list of contenders.

Elsewhere, the Corkman Three Day takes place in and around Kanturk. More details on this event can be obtained by calling organiser Dan Curtin on 087 2504565.

Cycling Leinster teams: Tour of Ulster (this weekend); Colm Bracken, Fergal Kelly, Ciaran Steed and Derek Cunningham.

Bedford International Three-Day, May 28th-30th: Julie O'Hagan, Roisín Kennedy, Gillian McDarby, Ashling Daly and Orla Hendron.

Fixtures: Saturday - Monday: Tour of Ulster, Craigavon/Strabane, Corkman Three-Day, Kanturk. Sunday: IVCA 45 Mile DMS, Duleek. Latest sign on time 9.15 am. Sliabh Bloom Challenge (touring event), Athy. Starts 9 am. Contact Michael Keating on 059 9132454 for details. Tour de Tourmakeady (touring event), Westport. Starts 10 am.