Sports Digest/Cycling: Navigators Insurance professional Ciarán Power was best of the Irish in yesterday's opening stage of the Tour of Britain in Scotland, coming home in 30th place, two minutes and nine seconds behind winner Nick Nuyens of the QuickStep team, writes Shane Stokes.
The 29-year-old was part of a 35-man group which went clear after 10 kilometres of the 184km race, the break driving the pace in strong crosswinds and opening up a lead of over 20 minutes by the end. The other eight Irish riders in the race - David McCann, Paul Griffin, Eugene Moriarty, Tommy Evans, Paídi O'Brien, Roger Aiken (all Team Ireland), Paul Healion and Ryan Connor (both DFL Driving Force Logistics) were stranded in the peloton and have lost any chance of a high overall placing.
The first yellow jersey went to Het Volk winner Nuyens, who outsprinted Team CSC's Michael Blaudzun inside the final 300 metres of the stage. The promising 25-year-old Belgian had gone clear with the Danish veteran on the final climb, and the two held a slender advantage over a 17-man chase group all the way to the line.
The Tour of Britain continues today with a stage from Carlisle to Blackpool. The riders continue to make their way south, passing over the lumpy, leg sapping roads of the Lake District and taking in two categorised climbs along the way. Power's finishing speed means he will be aiming for a high placing should the stage end in a sprint, while one or more of the other Irish riders may try to get clear during the 162.3km race.
Team manager Ed Beamon yesterday confirmed Ciarán Power and David O'Loughlin will continue with the team in 2006. "A few new faces are coming into the squad while some others will be leaving," he said. "We are holding on to the two Irish riders, though."
Power finished 13th in the Olympic road race last season, but has been hampered by an injury since then.
CYCLING: Italy's Alessandro Petacchi settled any doubts over who is the fastest rider in the Tour of Spain by winning his second successive stage yesterday. The Fassa Bortolo rider powered home in a sprint finish to the 232.3-km fourth stage from Ciudad Real to Argamasilla de Alba, holding off Norwegian Thor Hushovd and Germany's Erik Zabel.
Petacchi opened up the throttle 200 metres from the line to clinch the 14th victory of his career in the Tour of Spain and his 37th in major Tours. Hushovd finished second with Zabel third.
CAMOGIE: Limerick's Lynn Kelly has been appointed national camogie development co-ordinator while two of the games outstanding players, Mary O'Connor of Cork and Caroline Murray of Galway, take on the role of regional development co-ordinators.
Kelly brings a combination of business and sporting administrative experience to the role - formerly of AIB, she was sports officer with Limerick Institute of Technology and, more recently, Gaelic games promotions officer with the University of Limerick.
O'Connor and Murray will join the existing Ulster co-ordinator Michael McClements. O'Connor was Gaelic games promotion officer with LIT and Limerick GAA Board and will line out at centre back with the Cork seniors on September 18th in the All-Ireland camogie final against Tipperary. She also plays with the Cork senior women's football team that has reached the All-Ireland semi-final.
Murray is a sports science graduate of UL, completed a post-graduated course in NUI Galway in health promotion and worked with the Irish Cancer Society as health promotion officer.
RUGBY: New Zealand have made two changes to their starting team to play Australia in Saturday's final Tri-nations Test match at Auckland. Waikato flanker Sione Lauaki has replaced Jerry Collins at blindside, after Collins was suspended for two weeks for punching in last weekend's 31-27 win over South Africa in Dunedin.
Auckland winger Doug Howlett has replaced Rico Gear, who has a minor knee complaint, as part of New Zealand's policy of rotating their outside backs. There are also still some concerns about the availability of outhalf Leon MacDonald who has a hip problem.
New Zealand need to beat Australia to win the Tri-nations title otherwise South Africa will be crowned champions. The Wallabies are already out of the running.
NEW ZEALAND: 15 M Muliaina; 14 D Howlett, 13 T Umaga (cap), 12 A Mauger, 11 J Rokocoko; 10 L MacDonald, 9 P Weepu; 8 R So'oialo, 7 R McCaw, 6 S Lauaki, 5 A Williams, 4 C Jack; 3 C Hayman, 2 K Mealamu, 1 T Woodcock. Replacements: 16 D Witcombe, 17 G Somerville, 18 J Ryan, 19 M Holah, 20 K Senio, 21 L McAlister, 22 C Smith.
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