Cycling Weekly column: The 2002-winner Ciarán Power and fellow US-based professional David O'Loughlin have been confirmed as leading the Irish charge in the FBD Milk Rás, which begins on May 18th.
The announcement of Power's inclusion on the Hibernian Team Ireland squad is a big boost for the race, as there had been concerns that racing commitments with his Navigators pro team might have meant he would be unable to defend his title.
Navigators have, however, released the Waterford rider for the world-ranked event and he will be vying for his third win later this month.
O'Loughlin's presence in the squad means the Irish team will have a two-pronged attack; the Ofoto-Lombardi professional has been in impressive form this season and is a real contender.
Although O'Loughlin's international programme has been limited by college commitments, the Mayo rider has dominated the domestic scene as well as taking a fine victory in the world-ranked Archer GP in England in March. He also finished a strong 16th overall in the 2.3-ranked Tour of Georgia last week, America's premier stage race.
The five-man Hibernian Team Ireland squad will be completed by Vincent Gleeson and Andrew Donnellan plus French-based Tommy Evans, who won the Tour of the North last month and the FBD Milk Rás in 1996.
Race organiser Dermot Dignam has also released details of a formidable foreign contingent. Of these, Dignam highlights a national selection from Kazakhstan as perhaps the biggest threat to Irish hopes, with the British team also sure to be prominent. Included in the latter squad is 2001-winner Paul Manning and world points champion Chris Newton, who finished second overall last year.
Former professional Tommy Prim will manage the first of four pro teams in the race, the Bianchi Scandinavia line-up. Team HSBC and Team Down Under will travel from South Africa and Australia respectively, while the Sportsbook.com pro line-up is coming over from America.
British national champion and Team Fakta professional Julian Winn will aim to repeat his 2000 victory when he lines out at the head of the Welsh selection.
This weekend, home riders will continue their build-up for the Tour of Ulster, with the senior two entrants also eligible to line out in the Corkman three-day. The latter event is being run in conjunction with the International Youth Tour.
FIXTURES: Today-Monday: Tour of Ulster. For details contact Don McGreevey at (048) 90281808; Three-Day/Corkman International Youth Three-Day, Kanturk. Tomorrow: Lakeland Grand Prix, Enniskillen. Starts 1.30.
