A timely taste of Gallic racing

As the Tour de France rages on in the Pyrenees, Irish riders themselves get a feel of Gallic racing in the Tour de la Somme this weekend.

Gary McQuaid, Brian Aherne, Ray Clarke, Paul Griffin, Eugene Moriarty and Mark Scanlon, who broke the record in last week's Thermo King 50-mile classic, all line out in green jerseys in the three-day race.

Next week another Irish team takes to the roads - Tommy Evans, Paddy Moriarty, Morgan Fox and Denis Lynch will line out in the Manx week of racing from July 23rd-29th.

David McCann may also take part, team commitments permitting, and if so will be determined to improve on last year's third place in the mountain TT and second place in the Manx International. McCann will join the other four for the Tour of the Cotswalds on July 29th.

The first women's team of the year is also limbering up for action. National champion Geraldine Gill, Michelle Crinion, Debbie Booth and Louise Moriarty will line out in a three-day race in the Limoges region of France on July 28th. Susan O'Mara, who finished a fine 20th in last weekend's Challenge de L'Avenir, will unfortunately miss the race.

Details of these and other teams are listed in the Irish Cycling Federation's new website, which offers news, results and information and can be accessed at www.icf.ie. The off-road scene is catered for in another new site, the impressive mtbchamps.com. This contains profiles and interviews of riders, news from home and abroad and also provides details of this Sunday's Pog chase MTB event in Ballinastoe wood.

Robin Seymour is travelling back from his base in America for the off-road, having placed 68th in last weekend's World Cup race in Durango, Colorado. Seymour would have fared better had he not suffered a puncture.

Meanwhile, final preparations are underway for some important events.

The winners in last week's national underage championships will all race in the Irish team in the Westwood Homes Youth Tour, which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend.

The second National Criterium championships will take place in Killarney that Sunday, while junior and senior two riders have one of their biggest tests this season in this weekend's Rβs Dhun na nGall three-day, which starts today.

Finally, the Goal 2001 cycle fundraiser takes place on Saturday, leaving St Anne's GAA club in Bohernabreena, Tallaght, at 10 a.m..

Winded by a stunning tour de force by Lance Armstrong, the American's rivals now have 24 hours to work out how to stop him winning his third successive Tour de France.

Twelve days and 1,926 kilometres after setting out from Dunkirk, the remaining 166 riders were enjoying a first chance to rest their aching bodies yesterday.

An American tourist has died as a result of injuries sustained last Friday when he was hit by a car while watching the sixth stage of the Tour de France. The 43-year-old from Pennsylvania was hit by the car in Strasbourg just after the riders had passed by.

FIXTURES: July 21st-22nd: Rβs Dhun na nGall, stage one starts 6 p.m.. Details from Cathal at 087 6889781 Saturday 21st: Goal 2001 fundraiser. Starts St Anne's GAA club, Bohernabreena, Tallaght at 10 a.m.. More details from Vincent Crowley at 01 6767192 Ballivor GP, starts 6.30 p.m.. Sunday July 22nd: McNally Swords Grand Prix, Ballyboughal. Underage start 11 a.m., other cats at 1 p.m.. Jim O'Leary memorial, The Halfway, on Cork/Bandon rd. Underage racing starts 12 noon, other cats at 1 p.m. IVCA 25-mile TT Ashbourne, 10 a.m.. IVCA 50m Leisure Tour, starting in Shankill Village at 10 a.m.. Tour of the Lakes, Mullingar. Start at St Loman's GAA Clubhouse on the Delvin Road at 10 a.m..