CYCLING:WITH THE Vuelta a España set to start tomorrow, Irish professional Philip Deignan's preparations for the race were hit by the news that his Cervélo Test Team will cease to exist at the end of the season.
Rumours that the team was breaking up began on Wednesday, but it was yesterday when the first real confirmation came. Sporting director Jean Paul Van Poppel told a Dutch newspaper that the Swiss team would most likely stop; Deignan's agent Andrew McQuaid then told The Irish Timesthat Deignan and the other riders had been told on Wednesday that they should look for new contracts.
“I’m busy trying to secure a different team for Philip for next year,” said McQuaid, the son of UCI president Pat McQuaid. “He’s had a very up-and-down season so far, but that is due to a viral infection he’s had all year which was only diagnosed two weeks ago.
“However, his stage win and ninth overall in last year’s Vuelta shows just how good a rider he is and I am very hopeful of finding him a team elsewhere,” added McQuaid.
Deignan actually signed a new two-year deal with the team after last year’s race, with the squad being delighted with his Vuelta showing. The team’s backer Cervélo is thought likely to become a partner with the Garmin team of fellow Irish pro Daniel Martin, yet initial indications are that the squad doesn’t have to honour the remaining year of his contract.
More details are expected today when Cervélo holds a press conference. Providing Deignan can ride into form after what has been a difficult season, he will have extra incentive to chase results in the three-week race.
Ag2r La Mondiale rider Nicolas Roche has less to worry about, but he will, nevertheless, be focused on chasing a stage win. Providing he has the reserves after finishing 15th in the Tour de France, he has the ability to improve on his 13th overall of two years ago.
Meanwhile, Wendy Bates (Lakeside Wheelers) cemented her overall victory in the 2010 Louis Garneau/Zoo Hair Salon women’s national league on Sunday, taking a fine second in the final round held in Kilmessan.
First to the line was local rider Geraldine Gill (Bohermeen CC), who broke away with a lap to go and finished 40 seconds clear.
Bates won the bunch sprint for second, crossing the line ahead of her team-mate Sarah Piner and Jenny McCauley. Once the points were calculated, Bates, Piner and McCauley took the top three in the overall classification. Gill moved up to fourth with her ride.
A total of 3,670 have committed to Sunday’s An Post Sean Kelly Tour of Waterford.
WEEKEND FIXTURES:Saturday – Tandem track championships, Sundrive Road; Da Cooley Thriller XC marathon, sign on Carlingford Sailing Club, race starts 10am.Saturday-Sunday – Irish youth championships, South Tyrone. Day one begins with TT champs, Killyman road. Racing begins 10am. Sunday – James Fullerton Memorial, National league round five. Starts 1pm Ballyliffen Hotel; Munster league race.
