Newry and Navan are the venues for this weekend's main cycling confrontations. The 10-miles time-trial championship will be decided on the Warrenpoint Road tomorrow morning (10.0) and the Meath Grand Prix is on Sunday (1.15). FBD Milk Ras winner Philip Cassidy is taking part at Newry. He started the race at Clonmel last Sunday but did not finish because of a sore knee after a change of pedals. as ended on May 23rd.
Tommy Evans is the 10-miles record holder with 19:59. Paul Healion was third behind Scott Hamilton and Jamie Hunter at Banbridge last year and although Healion told me on Monday he had been doing special training aiming to improve on his medal position, he will not be involved as he has been chosen to go to a race in Scotland.
National team director Richie Beatty named Healion, Derek Finnegan, John Mannix and Kanturk junior Denis Lynch for the Tour of Moray at Elgin.
Cassidy will also head the lineup for his Navan club's Meath Grand Prix at Beechmount.
PJ Nolan said a 14-miles circuit used some years ago will be tried again because of road works on the usual route. It is out to Slane Castle, then left to Kilberry and back to Navan.
The Munster road-race championships for all grades will be held at Killorglin but Ciaran Power, Brian Kenneally and Eddie O'Donoghue are in Germany for three criteriums over the weekend at Bochurn, Munchengladbach and Dortmund.
The Veterans' Association have their Wicklow 200 and Wicklow Gap Challenge on Sunday, starting from Milltown at 7.0am and entries will be accepted on the line.
