Cycling News round-upPhilip Deignan finished an excellent sixth on yesterday's mountain stage of the Tour de Région Wallonne in Belgium. The first-year Ag2R-Prévoyance professional showed his climbing ability on a 198-kilometre stage which included four first-category ascents, including the final summit finish to Houffalize.
Deignan was part of the final selection fighting it out between them for the stage win. He crossed the line 18 seconds behind the victor Guido Trentin (Cofidis), with team-mate Mark Scanlon finishing a further two minutes, 37 seconds down in 34th. The 2.HC race concludes today with a 151km stage from Wanze to Namur.
Meanwhile Irish riders competing in the European Junior Track Championships in Italy last weekend had mixed fortunes, with some good performances interspersed with bad luck. The best result was by Michael Murray, who placed a fine 16th in the final of the 10km scratch race.
He then had an unexpected call-up the following day when he had to stand in for a feverish Martin Munroe, in the pursuit. Murray was still recovering from the race the night before, but recorded a time of three minutes 44 seconds to place 27th.
Maurice O'Brien was riding well in the 25km points race final but was brought down by a crash and was forced to pull out. The world championship track team will be announced next week.
Finally, there is a busy weekend of racing in the south west. The organisers of the Kerry Youth Tour are expecting over 200 riders from Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Belgium, Holland and South Africa for the three-day, four-stage under-age event. It starts on Saturday in Beaufort.
The national criterium championships will be held the same day in Cork, while the Gene Moriarty Memorial takes place on Sunday in Listowel. Many of the same competitors will then travel to the Crotty Cup in Kilrush on Monday.
Kerry Youth Tour selections: Team Ireland squad: Jeff O'Hanrahan (Clonmel CC), Denis Dunworth (Killorglin CC), William Connolly (Western Lakes CC), Thomas Martin (Clann Eireann CC). Ireland Development Squad (Under-15): Anthony Lynch (Kanturk CC), Sam Bennett (Kanturk CC), Philip Lavery (Ushers IRC), Sean Downey (Banbridge CC).
Fixtures: Friday-Sunday: FPM 3-Day, Newry, Co. Down. Saturday-Monday: Kerry Youth Tour, Killorglin. Stage 1 starts 2.30. Saturday: National Criterium Championships, Cork. Starts 3.0. Cycling Ireland track meet, Sundrive Road. Sign on at 10.30. Sunday: Cycling Ireland DH NPS 3, Moneyscalp, Co Down. Starts noon. Gene Moriarty, Listowel, Co Kerry (Classic league round 5) Starts 1 pm. Monday: Crotty Cup, Kilrush. Starts 12.30 (includes Women's Classic League round 7) Brian McNamara memorial cup, Tuam. Starts 12.30.
