Scanlon in good form

Cycling News round-upAG2R Prévoyance professional Mark Scanlon recorded a good result on yesterday's third stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe in France, placing eighth in the bunch sprint into Ernee. The Sligoman crossed the line close behind the day's victor Alberto Loddo (Selle Italia-Serramenti Diquigiovanni).

Former Rás competitor Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) finished second and moved to the top of the overall standings. Scanlon begins today's final stage to Le Mans in 67th place overall.

Meanwhile, in Belgium, Paídi O'Brien finished a respectable 26th alongside big pro squads in the GP Pino Cerami, posting one of the best showings yet for the new Sean Kelly Racing Team.

Former world under-23 time trial champion Danny Pate will lead a strong TIAA-CREF team in next month's FBD Insurance Rás. The American squad was set up three years ago by former professional Jonathan Vaughers with a view to developing new US talent, and made a good Rás debut last year when Stuart Gillespie won the Irish Sports Council's award for best young rider. He was also ninth overall.

Race organiser Dermot Dignam confirmed this week that the squad would return. "The team rode very well last year and made a real contribution to the racing," he said. The team is managed by Vaughters, a successful pro who helped Lance Armstrong take the first two of his seven victories in the 1999 and 2000 Tours de France.

The 2006 Rás begins in Dublin on May 21st and finishes eight days and over 1,200 kilometres later in Skerries on Sunday, May 28th.

In other news, young Irish professional Nicolas Roche has decided not to compete in the prestigious Paris-Roubaix Classic on Sunday. He had been named to the Cofidis squad for the gruelling event, which sees riders race across dangerous cobblestone sections, but after a tough time in Wednesday's Gent-Wevelgem ProTour race he has decided to put off his debut in the so-called "Hell of the North".

The decision is a wise one; Roche is 21 and has time on his side as regards his pro career.

Finally, promising 18-year-old rider Martin Munroe has begun a two-month stay at the UCI's World Cycling Centre in Aigle.

FIXTURES: Saturday: John Beggs Memorial, Dromore, starts noon; Brendan Carroll Memorial, Stamullen. Underage at 3 pm, main race at 4.15. Sunday: Stamullen GP, starts at 1 pm; Carrickmaccross Cup, racing starts 11.30 am; Bill Hyland Memorial, Clonmel, starts noon; Liam Horner Memorial Leisure Tour, Clonee, starts 10 am.

Results in SPORTS ROUND-UP