CYCLING NEWS ROUND-UP:PHILIP DEIGNAN improved his chances of being selected by his team for this year's Tour de France when he finished an excellent fifth on yesterday's stage four of the Vuelta a Castilla y León in Spain.
The Donegal rider crossed the line in a small group nine seconds behind solo winner Juan José Cobo (Fuji Servetto). He was best-placed of his Cervélo Test Team on the 145.4-kilometre mountain stage to Galende-Laguna De Los Peces, finishing just behind stage three winner Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne).
American rider Levi Leipheimer sprinted in three places behind Deignan and maintained the race lead. The Irishman’s performance saw him jump from 17th to seventh overall. He starts today’s final stage to Valladolid one minute and 53 seconds behind Leipheimer.
When coupled with strong performances in the past year by Daniel Martin and Nicolas Roche, Deignan’s promises a bright future for Irish cycling in big-stage races and one-day events.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for David O’Loughlin at the World Track Championships in Poland. Medals in this year’s World Cup events meant the Mayo rider started the individual pursuit confident that he should improve on last year’s sixth place but, feeling the early symptoms of illness, he posted a qualifying time almost 12 seconds off the personal best he set at last year’s worlds, placing 15th.
Taylor Phinney (United States Of America) was quickest in qualifying and went on to beat Jack Bobridge (Australia) in the gold-medal final.
Meanwhile, the first team for this year’s FBD Insurance Rás has been confirmed by the race organisers. The strong Danish Continental squad Designa Køkken will head to Ireland fronted by Mads Christensen (24).
Jimmi Sørensen and Laurent Didier are also likely to be part of the five-man squad.
The 2009 FBD Insurance Rás will begin in Kilcullen on May 17th and run for eight days. The world-ranked contest will be 1,289 kilometres in length, includes over 20 categorised climbs, and features stage finishes in Wexford, Cobh, Cahirciveen, Killorglin, Scariff, Castlebar, Clara and Skerries.
Strong teams are expected from across the globe. More details of these will be released in the coming weeks.
FIXTURES: Saturday:Ciclisport GP, Coagh, youth races 10am, senior event at 12.0; Junior testing day, ALSAA sports complex, near Dublin Airport; call Brian Taaffe for details at 085 7637055. Sunday:Waller Cup, Bohermeen (includes women's National League round two), youth races at 11am, other events at 1am; Des Hanlon Memorial, Carlow, first race 11.30am; IVCA DMS, Warrenstown, races start at 9.15am; PJ Logan Cup, Coalisland, starts 1.30pm.
