Popham targets podium

CYCLING/Weekly column: Following his excellent performance 12 months ago, Jamie Popham is aiming for a medal in the junior downhill event at the European mountainbike championships in Poland tomorrow. Popham placed fifth as a first-year junior and he is determined to do well in Walbrzych, writes Shane Stokes

Similarly motivated by the thoughts of a podium place is Ben Reid, who was 11th in last year's world championships. Gerard Wolff, Greg O'Keefe and Andy Sweeney complete the junior team while Andy Smith, John Lawlor and Andrew Yoong will line out against the seniors.

There will also be an Irish presence in the cross-country events; under-23 entrants Lewis Ferguson and Glenn Kinning. Andrew McCullough was due to double up with Barry Nolan in the junior XC race but the former has withdrawn due to illness.

Meanwhile, promising young Irish road-race rider Nicolas Roche has been awarded a trial with the French Cofidis team.

The 20-year-old recently attended a one-week training camp with the first division squad, following which he was invited to take part in professional races with them this September. Should he ride well during his period as stagiaire, he has a good chance of gaining a pro contract for 2005.

The news is a major boost for Roche, son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche.

Mark Scanlon is continuing his build-up for the Olympics road race on August 15th. The 23-year-old impressed with a solid ride in his first Tour de France and is hoping the gruelling three-week event will ensure he is in fine form in Athens.

On Sunday he will line out in the next round of the World Cup, the HEW Cyclassics Cup in Hamburg.

Scanlon will then go on to participate in the five-day Tour of Denmark from August 4th to 8th, a race in which 12 months ago he took the opening stage and finished fifth overall.

At home, a number of stage races are taking place over the next few days.

Today sees the start of the FPM three-day in Newry, while tomorrow 200 underage riders from Ireland and abroad will line out in the spectacular Kerry Youth Tour in Killorglin.

On Tuesday the M Donnelly Junior Tour begins with a prologue time-trial at Portlaw in Waterford and, like the Kerry Youth Tour, it too has attracted a big overseas representation. Exciting battles are expected in both international events.

FIXTURES: Friday-Sunday: FPM Three-Day, Newry. Stage One starts at 6.30 p.m. Saturday-Monday: Kerry Youth Tour, Killorglin. Stage One starts at 2 p.m. Saturday: Midleton Criterium, Ballincurra. Starts 7 p.m. Mount Nugent Grand Prix, Mount Nugent. Starts 7 p.m. Sunday: Gene Moriarty Memorial, Listowel, also Rás Lios Tuathail, starts 1 p.m. Lough Glynn Carnival Race, Lough Glynn. Starts 1 p.m. Slaney CC open race, Enniscorthy. Sign on at 1998 centre, starts at 11.30 a.m. IVCA 50-mile TT, Enfield. Starts 9 a.m. Monday: Crotty Cup, Kilrush. Starts 2 p.m. Women's Classic League and Senior 3 handicapped event, Kilcullen, starts 11 a.m.