Top riders face tough battle in Westport

Cycling: A ferocious battle is on the cards this weekend at the Irish National Road Race Championships on a tough course in Wesport, Co Mayo.

All of Ireland's top riders are expected to turn up for the men's event, which will see professional and amateur riders scrap it out over 14 laps of the undulating eight-mile circuit.

Local rider David O'Loughlin will try to win his third successive title on Sunday. Navigators Insurance team-mate Ciarán Power will join forces with him in the 112-mile event, the New York based squad keen to hold on to the distinctive green and white jersey which guarantees publicity in the US.

Both have been riding well, with double FBD Insurance Rás stage winner Power continuing his rapid recovery from an operation earlier this year. He finished eighth in the Tour de Beauce last weekend, despite riding in the services of team-mates Valeriy Kobzarenko and Sergey Lagutin and helping them take first and second in the general classification of the 2.2 ranked event.

Mark Scanlon and David McCann have also won the race twice and were second and third last year. However, both Scanlon and team-mate Philip Deignan (AG2R Prévoyance) have been below par due to illness.

McCann recorded a scorching 18 minutes and 24 seconds in a 10-mile time trial held on the Woodgreen course last Thursday. Once ratified this will be a new national record. He will be joined on Sunday by Giant Asia team-mates Stephen Gallagher and Paul Griffin, who have also ridden well this year.

Talented Cofidis professional Nicolas Roche is another potential winner, having taken third when he last rode the championships two years ago as a 19-year-old. His in-form cousin Daniel Martin (VC La Pomme) is similarly expected to travel from France, while riders from Ireland's two continental teams, the Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group squad and the Seán Kelly-ACLVB M Donnelly team will also play a big part. Although he hadn't entered by yesterday, the latter team will probably include last year's under-23 champion Paídi O'Brien.

The action gets under way tomorrow with the seven-lap women's championships. Siobhan Dervan (Lotto Ladies) is most likely to be challenged by Louise Moriarty (Moving Ladies) and former champion Julie O'Hagan (Dublin Wheelers), although there will be several others gunning for a high placing.

This number is expected to include Jenny Fay, Heather Wilson, Orla Hendron, Roisín Kennedy, Mary Brennan and Joanna Hickey.

FIXTURES: Saturday/Sunday: Irish road race championships, Westport. Women's race starts 2.30pm Saturday, men's race (incorporating under-23 title) noon Sunday. Entries permitted on day. Saturday: Sundrive Track Racing, Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive Road. Sign on from 10.30am. Youth racing, Clonbur, Galway. Sign on Lynch's Hotel from 10am. Cycling Ulster XC League round 4, Tievenadarragh Forest. First race 11.30am.