CYCLING/Round-up: His confidence buoyed by an excellent fourth place in Sunday's Grand Prix of Rennes, Irish professional Ciarán Power is highly motivated for this weekend's programme of racing. The Navigators professional starts in the GP Pino Cerami in Belgium today, then tackles the Ronde Van Drenthe in the Netherlands on Saturday.
Besides boosting his standing within the team, Power's ride on Sunday was important in rebuilding his self-belief after a difficult year in 2001. The GP of Rennes result was his best in nearly two years.
David McCann is also rebuilding his career, having lost his professional contract when the Ceresit team collapsed in February. The national road race champion has been hampered by injury this year but is best placed of the Irish after the opening prologue of the Tour of Mallorca.
McCann finished 18th in the time trial, 41 seconds off the lead, with Tommy Evans 49th, Brendan Doherty 96th, Paul Healion 98th and Timmy Barry 103rd. Ray Clarke, Shane Prendergast, Paul Kane, Eugene Moriarty, Keith Gallagher and Mark Kiernan were further back. Most of these riders will be among the strong field confirmed for the Shay Elliot memorial race later this month.
Upgraded to the International calendar this year as a 1.5 event, the organisers have said many foreign teams will be in attendance, including Commonwealth squads from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, national teams from Wales and Scotland, plus other possible entries from Canada, Belgium and France. The UK Compensation Group team, which dominated the Rás Mumhan race two weeks ago, will also compete.
Classic Walls-rider Brian Nugent and downhill MTB-racer Jamie Popham both rode with distinction recently in overseas competition. Nugent won a bronze medal in the British University Sports Association track championships held in Manchester, while Popham finished fifth against 60 other riders in the BMX event of the Singapore Street Games.
Finally, the national mountainbike orienteering championship due to be held tomorrow in the Nagles mountains, Cork, has been postponed, as has Sunday's MTB race in Clonmel. The Leinster League race listed in the Cycling Ireland calendar for tomorrow is an error as the league ended last week .
FIXTURES: Tomorrow - East Tyrone spring classic, Drummanor. Starts noon. Sun 14th: Mick Cahill memorial, Banteer. Starts 1 p.m. Beggan Trophy, Bohermeen. Starts 2 p.m. Castlereagh GP, Carryduff. Starts 1 p.m. IVCA CP, Summerhill. Starts 10 a.m.
