McCann ready to claim Korea victory

Cycling News round-upDavid McCann looks poised for overall victory in the Tour de Korea, the Northern rider starting today's final stage as leader of the 2.2 ranked race.

McCann won the second stage on Monday and took over at the top, and since then has defended his position with the assistance of compatriot Paul Griffin and the rest of the Giant Asia team.

McCann went clear in a break yesterday and successfully distanced the second rider overall, Seon-Jae Jang (Sang Moo) before the finish.

He finished ninth on the stage, finishing in a group sprinting for seventh place some 29 seconds after the day's winner Shaun Higgerson (MG XPower). Griffin finished 57th.

McCann will start today's 135 kilometre stage with a lead of just over 16 seconds over Stuart Shaw (MG XPower), but is relatively confident of holding on.

"There is only 135km tomorrow. It is hilly all day but there are no big climbs. Although it's close, we should be able to keep the two dangermen under control," he said.

Meanwhile, the Wales Stena team for the FBD Insurance Rás has been boosted considerably with the news that the promising young rider Yanto Barker will now ride the event. Barker will act as joint leader with 2000 winner Julian Winn in the eight-day race.

There has also been a change on the Irish national team, with Stephen Gallagher stepping in to replace fellow pro Paul Griffin.

Griffin had been due to ride the 2.2 ranked Irish tour but a clash with his Giant Asia race programme caused a change of plan.

However, Gallagher's Flanders team have agreed to release him for the duration of the race and he will now join Mark Scanlon, Paídi O'Brien, Conor Murphy and Brian Keane in the green jersey.

In track news, the first inter-provincial youth league will get underway tomorrow at the Sundrive Road venue in Kimmage.

This is the first round of a four-race series, with a meet in the same venue on July 9th and then two more in Orangefield, Belfast, on August 13th and 27th.

Riders will be selected to represent their province from their provincial leagues. For more information on tomorrow's race, contact Will Byrne at 086 8047839.

Byrne is also organising general accreditation at the same venue tomorrow; all those interested in track competition this year should attend from 10.15 am.

FIXTURES

Saturday: Track accreditation/interprovincial youth league, Sundrive road.

Sunday: Noel Hammond/Kieran Hammond Memorial, Ballyboughal. Starts 11.30 am. Kelly Pharmacy GP, Kilrush, Dungarvan. Starts noon. Apple Blossom Classic, Armagh City. Starts 1 pm. Conor Pass Challenge, Tralee. (Touring event). Starts 10 am.