While most interest will be on the Tour de France finale on Sunday, there is a variety of racing on the home scene over the weekend with races at Letterkenny, Ballivor, Newry and Cork.

However, a dark cloud hangs over the involvement of teams representing Ireland in the important international events coming up because of a dearth of ICF funds. A decision is anxiously awaited following another plea to the Sports Council for a grant to send teams to the under-23 and junior road races at the world championships at Verona, Italy, on October 8th and 9th and it is also hoped the Olympic Council will assist in sending a team to the B world championship in Uruguay in November.

The venture to South America is very important as a top seven finish would give Ireland a place in next year's Olympic Games in Sydney.

Alice Sherratt and Philip Cassidy will head the organising committee for the Junior Tour from August 7th to 22nd, First category licence holders are excluded from Ras Dun na nGall, from this evening to Sunday at Letterkenny. Sean Bracken's Leinster team for the event is Mick Wall, Jonathon Reidy, Sean Farrell and Garry McQuaid with Andy Mahon the manager. The top men can take part in the other promotions - the Navan club's Ballivor Grand Prix tomorrow and Sunday's Tour of the Mournes at Newry and the Harding's Grand Prix at Highfield, Cork.

Mark Scanlon hopes to return to action on Sunday week but is unlikely to travel with the Irish team to the European under-23 championship at Lisbon.