Power brings top form to important series in US

Cycling News: Irish professionals Ciarán Power and David O'Loughlin are about to undertake their most important team assignments of the year in the US, with the Wachovia Series beginning in Arlington this Sunday.

The action kicks off with the Clarendon Cup, followed by the Lancaster Invitational on Tuesday and the Trenton Classic in New Jersey on Thursday. The big climax of the series is the 156-mile Wachovia USPRO Championship in Philadelphia on Sunday week, June 8th, which will be disputed by top riders from the US and abroad.

Navigators rider Power and Ofoto-Lombardi's O'Loughlin will have a valuable role to play for their teams and may get the opportunity to figure in the crucial events. Both will have benefited from some hard racing during the FBD Milk Rás, where Power took two stages, although O'Loughlin's illness-induced retirement will have affected both confidence and preparation.

Also gearing up for a big event is Mark Scanlon, who will line out with the Ag2r team in the seven-day Tour of Germany next week. Scanlon recently took the best result of his debut pro season in the Tour de Picardie, where he was 12th, and will be hoping to further impress his team in this 2.2-ranked event.

Fellow professional Dermot Nally is competing in the Volta ao Alentejo with his Paternina squad, and finished in the main bunch on the opening stage.

The prospect of other Irish riders going on to join Scanlon, Nally, Power and O'Loughlin in the professional ranks are enhanced by the continuation of the Team Ireland project in Belgium. Funded by the Irish Sports Council, the scheme enables riders to travel to Merchtem to take part in top-level amateur competition for just €50 per week.

Eugene Moriarty will once again supervise the team and also give guidance to those who wish to take part. More details are available from Cycling Ireland at 01 8551522, or on their website www.cyclingireland.org.

Finally, downhill rider Jamie Popham will follow on his excellent win in the second round of the junior British points series last Sunday when he lines out against the world's best in the World Cup event in Fort William this weekend. Popham is one of the best talents to emerge in Irish MTB racing and should benefit greatly from the experience. He is currently leading both the British and Irish national points series for junior riders.

SATURDAY (to Monday): Dunboyne three-day (Dunboyne) - Stage One, 2.30 p.m.

SUNDAY: Noel Taggert Memorial classic league event, Banbridge, noon. Champion of champions 25-mile time trial, Ards, 10 a.m.