Having signed a professional contract with the Tonissteiner team in October, Athlone cyclist Morgan Fox made his debut in last week's Lloret de Mar race in Spain. The 25-year-old's aim was to use the event to gain race fitness, but as the race progressed the Belgian squad were thrust into the role of working flat out for team leader Michel Van Hakke, who went on to win the event.
By Fox's own admission it was an exhausting debut, the rigours of each day's s stage exacerbated by post-race training sessions of up to three hours. But the former Irish national champion did enough to secure a place in tomorrow's Het Volk semi-classic, where he will line up against some of the biggest names in cycling. He hopes to continue to gain experience, improve his race fitness and go on to challenge in events later this spring.
Ireland's other professional, Ciaran Power, returned home this week to prepare for his move to the Linda McCartney team base in Cornebarrieu, close to Toulouse. Power impressed with his performance in last week's Rapport Tour where he was best placed of the six-man team. The 25-year-old looks to have earned his place in the prestigious Tirreno-Adriatico stage race which runs from March 8th-15th.
Mark Scanlon, the 1998 world junior champion, will also be based in southern France this season, and earlier this week the 19-year-old departed for the VC Etupes base in Belfort.
After injury sidelined him for much of last year, the Sligoman is expected to make his long-awaited return to competition in the next few days. Prodigiously talented and highly motivated, if Scanlon can overcome his knee problems then more big victories are surely ahead of him. With things gaining pace on the international front, racing is about to get under way on the domestic scene. Thermo King CC host a training race tomorrow for juniors, seniors, ladies and veterans, starting at 11 a.m. from the Thermo King factory on Monivea Road, Galway.
On Sunday, the Lacey Trophy handicap starts at 12 noon from the Earl of Desmond Hotel in Tralee, with seniors, juniors, veterans and ladies eligible to compete. Next Saturday the opening event in the Heffernan Tyres League takes place at 11.00 in Newbridge, while one hour later Banbridge CC host a handicap event in Annaclone.
For many, the season opener will be the Cycleways Cup in Navan on Sunday March 5th. The programme begins at 12.30 with a 120 km competition for senior one riders, with races for senior two competitors, veterans, juniors and women.
