McCann returns to Giant Asia

CYCLING:Former national champion David McCann and Kerry rider Paul Griffin will compete with the Giant Asia team in 2008, lining out against the top riders on that continent.

McCann had a successful showing with the team from 2004 to 2006, winning races such as the Tour of Korea, the Tour of Milad du Nour and landing stage victories in the Tour of Qinghai Lake, the Tour of Thailand and the Herald Sun Tour. He also took the Irish national road race championship, two national time trial titles and the FBD Insurance Rás in that time.

The 34-year-old competed with the Colavita Sutter Home team in the US this season but didn't manage to hit top form. He and Giant Asia will be hoping his return to the team will see him back to his best in 2008.

Meanwhile, 34-year-old Griffin has been offered a new, one-year contract with the squad. He will have an early start to his season when he lines out in the six-day Tour of Taiwan this Sunday.

To track news, and despite the setting of two national records at last weekend's World Cup in Beijing, there is a potential cloud on the horizon. In March of last year Northern Ireland Sports Minister David Hanson revealed plans to spend approximately £50 million on high-priority sports infrastructure projects. Three bids to build what would be Ireland's first indoor velodrome (in Belfast, Newry and Newcastle) were lodged and all were successful in reaching phase two of the elite facilities programme.

However, the draft budget has now been slashed by £18 million, prompting concerns that the velodrome could be passed over. Cycling Ulster have called on cyclists to write to the Offices of the First and Deputy First Minister and to Minister Edwin Poots of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to protest against the cuts in the budget and to call for the track to be built.

Finally, Sean Kelly was named to the Texaco Sportstars' Hall of Fame this week, joining recipients such as Eamonn Coghlan and Johnny Giles. Kelly has a glittering set of results from his professional career, including four green jerseys in the Tour de France, one Tour of Spain, seven editions of Paris-Nice and double Classic victories in Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He was also world number one from 1984 to 1989.

FIXTURES

Saturday: Banbridge Cyclo Cross, Academy, start 11.30am, main event 1.15pm.

Sunday: Kanturk hamper. Sign on at Strand street, racing starts at noon.