THE Ireland team of Paul O'Callaghan, Barry Twohig David O'Loughlin and John McCarthy head the line up of 86 for the Junior Tour of Ireland, sponsored by the League of Credit Unions, which starts in Limerick on Sunday and finishes in Cork on Sunday week.
The international opposition is from Belgium, Scotland and Wales the remaining 17 teams are regional selections from Ireland and England. But the organiser, Pat McQuaid, is happy witch the strength of what he describes as "a well balanced field that should provide keen competition all the way".
McQuaid had hopes of the late inclusion of a squad from the British CF, and there was also the possibility of teams from Italy and the US, but they have all fallen through. But the Belgians and Welsh are particularly strong and will provide tough opposition for the locals.
Mike Guilliam, who leads the Belgian selection, has seven wins to his credit this year and was fourth overall in a recent international four day event in Luxembourg. Neil Jones and James Griffiths, who ride for Wales, were second and third in the British junior championship.
Twohig, after wins in the first three events in the junior classic league, has an unbeatable lead in that competition. But O'Callaghan took the Irish junior championship and they must be leading contenders for the top honours in the 19th running of the event.
Martin Earley was the first winner of the Junior Tour in 1978, and although there was a British victory last year, when Anthony Aspell emerged best, the previous five winners have also done well Aidan Duff, Simon Coughlan, Micheal Fitzgerald, Tommy Evans and Peter Daly.
For those in action next week, the next Olympics in Sydney could be a long range target, and after the dismal placings by Ireland's cycling representatives in Atlanta some new talent is obviously urgently required.
Stage one on Sunday (2.0 p.m.) is 62 miles from Limerick to Tralee. There are 68 miles on to Killorglin on Monday (11.0 a.m.). In Tuesday morning's six mile time trial to Killarney the first lad is off at nine o'clock.
There is another 11.0 a.m. start on Wednesday for 54 miles to Mac room, but there will be a late finish to Thursday's 45 miles to Kanturk as the stage does not get under way until 2.30.
Stage six, next Friday, (11.15 a.m.) is the longest, 73 miles to Dungarvan and it includes the climb over The Vee. But there are just 47 miles the following day (also 11.15) to Cork. The finale at Douglas on Sunday week at 1.30 p.m. is over 10 laps of a 4.8 mile circuit.
The Gene Moriarty memorial race on Sunday at Listowel is the last of eight events in the classic league for seniors and it seemed lo be all down to a confrontation between Paul Griffin of the Lee Strand team and Tommy Evans of Banbridge.
When Griffin beat Evans at the finish of the Tour of Armagh at Lurgan last Sunday he regained the lead in the competition from Evans. But it is very tight with Griffin on 56 points to 54 for Evans, and the winner collects 15 points.
However, Griffin is apparently going to Gloucester for the Tour of the Cotswolds on Sunday with Ian Chivers and Bill Moore so that would appear to leave the way clear for Evans to take the league.
