Scanlon gets surprise call to ride Giro d'Italia

Cycling: Mark Scanlon will line out in the second Grand Tour of his career this weekend when he begins the Tour of Italy.

The 25-year-old former world junior champion was a late call-up to the AG2R Prévoyance team after compatriot Philip Deignan was forced to withdraw due to a kidney infection. Deignan, a talented climber, had been due to make his Grand Tour debut, but has been told he must take a break to get over the problem.

Scanlon said yesterday he was surprised to be called up and, having suffered from sickness this season, wasn't sure what to expect. "I didn't even know I was a reserve to do the race," he said. "If I do more than 10 days I will be lucky. I had two weeks off there, so I am surprised that I was called up for the Giro at all.

"I have been having problems with a tooth this year, it was badly infected and that was affecting my form. I will need to get a general anaesthetic later in the year and have it removed. It has settled down for now due to antibiotics, but I had two weeks off because of it, so my form isn't great. I will just have to see how things go."

Scanlon rode his first three-week tour when he competed in the 2004 Tour de France. He rode solidly, and was expected to go on to a new level as a result. But the end of the season was ruined by appendicitis, and last year was hampered somewhat by illness and injury.

The 89th Giro d'Italia begins tomorrow with a prologue in Seraing, Belgium. Following four days in Belgium, the riders will fly to Italy for the remainder of the race. Favourites include Ivan Basso (CSC), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval) and Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas).

In other news, 1998 and 2002 Rás winner Ciarán Power will continue his comeback after an operation earlier this year when he lines out in the Irish tour this month. The Navigators professional returned to racing after an eight-month absence in last weekend's Tour of Ulster and impressed there, dominating the mountains classification and finishing sixth overall. He will ride the Rás with the Tipperary Dan Morrissey team.

It has also been confirmed that the Australia-FRF Couriers Carravello Continental team will also take part.

FIXTURES

Saturday: Track open day (bikes available for use). Runs from 11am at the Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive Road, Dublin 12. Contact Aiden Collard for more details at 087 4179967. Youth racing, Connacht. Contact Pat O'Donnell for details at 086 8159134. Oughterard criterium cancelled.

Sunday: Cross Country MTB NPS, round two, Ballinastoe Woods, near Roundwood. First races at noon. Coombes Connor Memorial, Sign on Drogheda Retail Park. First races 11am. (Programme includes round two of the National Women's League, 1 pm). Tour of the Mournes, sign on Newry Hockey club from 10.30. Tommy Sheehan Memorial, Carrick-on-Suir, noon. Blazing Saddles training camp, Clane, GAA club, 10am.