Healion shows sprint form to take top-10 stage place in Queensland

CyclingIrish rider Paul Healion has once again shown the fine sprinting form he displayed in last month's Herald Sun Tour in Australia, taking a top-10 placing on the fourth stage of the Jayco Tour of Queensland this week.

The Dubliner sprinted in ninth at the end of the 33-kilometre Bundaberg Criterium on Tuesday, crossing the line to the fore of the main bunch which finished one second behind the Australian stage winner David McKenzie (Jayco). Healion's Centracks team-mate Philip Finegan also finished in the same time, with Dermot Nally conceding 13 seconds and Brian Kenneally losing just over six minutes.

Yesterday's 90.2-kilometre race to the curiously-named Town of 1770 saw the Swedish winner of the Herald Sun Tour, Jonas Ljungblad, solo in, two seconds clear of Australian rider David Harrigan. Finegan was best placed of the Irish riders in 35th place.

He is also highest in the general classification in 49th place, 10 minutes and 37 seconds behind race leader Jaaron Poad of New Zealand.

The 2.5-ranked race continues today with two stages, a 63.3-km road race from Gin Gin to Mount Perry and then a 4.1 individual time trial up the same climb.

The race draws to a close tomorrow with a 42-km criterium in Bundaberg, where Healion will aim to once again exploit his good sprinting form.

Meanwhile, Cycling Ireland president PJ Nolan has revealed that he is to step down from the position at this year's AGM, to be held in the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, on the 20th of this month. Nolan was co-opted by the board in late 2000 following the resignation of then president Mick Lawless.

Nolan had another year left as president, but due to other commitments has said he is unable to give the post as much time as is required.

CI director Michéal Concannon has put his name forward for the position and, as the sole candidate, looks set to replace the Meath man at the helm of CI.

CI's Track Commission will hold its AGM this Saturday at 4pm in the Spawell Leisure Centre, Templeogue, Co Dublin. The agenda will include a review of 2004 activities and election of new commission members. All are welcome.

Finally, this Sunday will see the first round of the Cycleways Leinster Cyclo-Cross league take place in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, rather than Navan as was originally advertised. The underage race is at 11:30, while the other categories will get underway at noon.

JAYCO TOUR OF QUEENSLAND, Australia (2.5) Stage 4: Bundaberg Criterium, 33 km - 1 D McKenzie (Jayco) 33 kilometres in 43 mins 23 secs (45.64 km/h); 2 M Rex (Lysaght) at 1 sec; 3 A Hutchinson (Mirvac); 4 F Odebrecht (Malaysia Airlines); 5 J Poad (Argon 18 Bikes-Caravello); 6 R Van Hout (Subaru) Irish: 9 P Healion (Centracks); 47 P Finegan (Centracks) both same time; 53 D Nally (Centracks) at 13 secs; 55 B Kenneally (Centracks) at 6 mins 9 secs. Stage 5: Miriam Vale-Town of 1770: 1 J Ljungblad (Bendigo Bank) 90.2 kilometres in 2 hours 13 mins 24 secs (40.57 km/h); 2 D Harrigan (Europcar) at 2 secs; 3 B Heirewegh (Bundaberg Sugar); 4 R Downing (Radio 4BU-KIX FM) both same time; 5 J Burrow (Bendigo Bank) at 6 secs; 6 C Sweet (Lysaght). Irish: 35 Finegan at 23 secs; 51 Healion at 1 min 11 secs; 54 Kenneally at 1 min 59 secs.

General classification after stage 5: 1 J Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes-Caravello 6.49.45; 2 R Van Hout (Subaru) at 2 secs; 3 B Heirewegh (Bundaberg Sugar) at 7 secs; 4 D Harrigan (Europcar) at 29 secs; 5 Ljungblad at 33 secs; 6 Downing at 36 secs. Irish: 49, Finegan at 10 min 37 secs; 53 Healion at 21 mins 1 sec; 54 Kenneally at 29 min 26 secs.

Sprint Championship: 1 K Page (Radio 4BU-KIX FM) 31 pts.

King Of The Mountain Championship: 1 T Liese (Malaysia Airlines) 14 pts.

Criterium Championship: 1 Felix Odebrecht (Malaysia Airlines) 21 pts.

Leading Queensland Rider Award: 1 A Hutchinson (Aus).

Mirvac Most Aggressive rider: 1 Liese 3 pts.

Teams classification: 1Argon 18 Bikes-Caravello, 20 hours 33 mins 17 secs; 2 Bendigo Bank, at 4 secs; 3 Bundaberg Sugar, at 5 secs Other: 11 Centracks, at 28 mins 50 secs.