Griffin bounces back

Cycling Round-up: Irish rider Paul Griffin finished fourth on stage four of the Tour of Thailand this week, bouncing back to form after crashing earlier in the 2.2-ranked Asian event.

The 34-year-old rider crossed the line in a group three minutes and 31 seconds behind the stage winner Ahad Sarai Kazemi of the Tabriz Petrochem team, who outsprinted two others to land the victory.

Griffin moved up to seventh place in the overall standings. Sarai Kazemi and second-placed Tonton Susanto (Faeso Denmark) jumped to first and second overall as a result of their breakaway. Overnight leader Jatuphoom Lekhawat (All Star Thailand) dropped outside the top 10. The six-day race continues with a 176.1 kilometre stage to Phayao and then concludes with a 164.4 km leg to Chiang Mai.

Meanwhile, a number of races were held around the country last weekend. Former national cyclo-cross champion Roger Aiken won the cross race promoted by his own club at the Banbridge Academy. He was clearly the strongest but had to work hard to rein in fellow Banbridge team-mate Liam McGreevy after puncturing on the sixth of eight laps. Aiken finally crossed the line four seconds clear.

Elsewhere, Sean Kelly's brother Vincent won the Wexford Wheelers' Christmas Hamper Race ahead of Vincent Cronin (Carrick). Former world number one Kelly was third.

Another veteran Seamus Kennedy beat Paddy Fitzsimons and Dave Garland to take the Dublin Wheelers Christmas race, while Michael Hennessy (Fermoy) outsprinted Tim O'Regan (Cycleways) in the Kanturk hamper event.

Finally, two fixtures will take place after Christmas. The Cycle for Cairde will be held next Wednesday, starting from The Village Inn in Slane at 11 am. Then on Friday week a three-day winter training camp run by the Earl of Desmond cycling club will begin. Each spin will vary from four to five hours. More details can be obtained by calling Matt Lacey at 087 2258159.