Scanlon captures road-race laurels

CYCLING/Irish Road Racing championships: Bronze in Cork two years ago, silver 12 months later in Dundrod; former world junior champion Mark Scanlon's upward trajectory continued yesterday when the talented 21-year-old won the Irish Road Racing championships in Stamullen with a dominant display of power and tactical savvy.

For many Ciarán Power was the man to watch, but repeated attacks by Scanlon and VC La Pomme team-mate Tommy Evans finally proved to much for the FBD Milk Rás winner, who bowed to their numerical superiority with half a lap remaining and settled for silver.

There was greater disappointment for the other tipped professional, David McCann, who came to the race hoping to take his third consecutive title but who instead saw his chances dashed when he suffered two punctures inside the first 10 miles. The Volksbank Ideal rider chased for a lap (12 miles) to get back on but by the time he regained contact, Scanlon, Power and US-based professional David O'Loughlin had established a one minute-plus lead.

Along with the rest of the main field, McCann tried repeatedly to get back on terms but just three riders succeeded in getting up to the leaders - Evans, Eugene Moriarty (Cycleways Lee Strand) and totalcycling.com's Brendan Doherty.

Moriarty eventually slipped back, O'Loughlin retired and Doherty finally submitted to the power of the foreign-based trio on the final lap, leaving Evans and Scanlon to work over Power and ensure that the VC La Pomme team will take back the Irish champion's jersey to their Marseille base. McCann eventually took fourth, while the Cycleways Lee Strand squad won the team award.

The women's event saw another French-based rider take gold when Geraldine Gill (VC Quintin) made history in taking her fourth consecutive national title with a storming solo ride. Gill stamped her authority on the opening lap, going clear four miles into the 36-mile race and rode with great power to swiftly open a decisive lead.

By the end of the first 12-mile lap, the Bohermeen rider was over two minutes ahead of a chasing trio comprising US-based Lorraine Manning, Dublin Skip's Louise Moriarty and Colette Swift of the Surrey League team. Manning jumped clear on the final lap to move into the silver medal position but there was no hope of catching a speeding Gill, who finished her impressive lone effort with a five minute, 38 seconds winning margin. Bronze went to Moriarty .