Little chance of Irish victory

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of Stephen Roche's triumph in the World road race championship at Villach in Austria and an Irish team returns there for the European under-23 title race. It has been switched from Sunday to tomorrow but hopes of celebrating another Irish victory at the venue are very slim, even at such a considerably reduced level of competition.

After Roche had taken the leader's pink jersey from his Italian team leader Roberto Visintini in the Tour of Italy in May 1987 he battled on against the odds to win. He followed up in July by regaining the Tour De France lead from Pedro Delgado in the second last day time trial to add his name to the distinguished roll of winners.

Roche's prospects of completing the big treble at Villach - it had only been achieved by Belgian Eddy Merckx in 1974 - were not rated highly and he said he was riding mainly to assist in Sean Kelly's attempt to take the elusive title.

However, when Roche attacked from the group of about 70 going out on the last lap only 12 were able to join him at the head of affairs. This group included Kelly but approaching the finish Roche found himself at the front with just four rivals and Kelly was behind, closely watched by the winner the previous year in Colorado, Moreno Argentin. After quickly summing up the situation Roche decided to go for it himself and although others were closing in on him he hung on for a memorable win.

In the sprint for the other medals Argentin was second ahead of Juan Fernandez with Rolf Golz next and Kelly fifth. Will there ever be a repeat of such glory days for Irish cycling?

Last weekend the six-man Irish under-23 team contested the Oberosterekil Grand Prix over four stages in three days in Austria and Paddy Moriarty was best of them, 50th, six minutes and 16 seconds behind the winner. There were 156 starters from 25 nations.

Aidan Duff was 55th at 8:11 with Irish under-23 champion Michael McNena 73rd at 8:30. Ciaran Power was in a group who were eliminated when they were just six seconds outside the time limit; Dermot Finnegan was forced to pull out because of tendonitis and Brian Kenneally also abandoned before the end.

As only teams of five take part manager Barry Monaghan has to decide who to leave out. Moriarty, Duff, McNena and Power seem sure of inclusion with the other berth between Finnegan and Kenneally. They are also riding tomorrow for places in the Irish team for the World under-23 championship race at San Sebastian on October 11th.

Scott Hamilton is the lone Irish representative in the time trial event at Villach.