There is another example this weekend of the necessity for a rethink on the planning of the list of fixtures as it is quiet on the home scene at a time when it should be the peak of the season. The programme is not attractive enough to maintain interest.

Anyway, with the Tour de France coming here next year, I am taking a break to renew acquaintance with the great event and soak up some of the atmosphere as the battle for supremacy rages in the Alps. There is the St Etienne time trial today, mountain top finishes at Alpe d'Huez tomorrow and Courcheval on Sunday followed by Morzine on Monday and then on to Fribourg in Switzerland.

First category licence holders are excluded from the Tuam two day race tomorrow and Sunday with the Tour of Midleton their main event on Sunday. The Midleton criterium is on tomorrow evening.

The 10 miles time trial championship is down for decision tomorrow, promoted by the Bann Valley club, and most attention will be on Scott Hamilton of Maryland Wheelers. Last year Hamilton made a clean sweep of the three TT championships and, following his repeat win in the 25 miles title event last month he is expected to continue the sequence.

As Raymond Clarke won the Mayo Grand Prix on Sunday, with Hamilton second, and none of Clarke's nearest rivals in the Classic League collected any points, he has opened up a good lead in the competition with three events to go.

Clarke has 55 points with Tommy Evans next on 39 and then David Peelo and Karl Donnelly have 31 with Ciaran Power on 30.