Irish make impression

Cycling ColumnIt's been quite a while since Irish riders were regularly winning at the top of pro cycling but the outlook became a little brighter in 2007 with the performances of developing talents. Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan completed their first Grand Tours, the former finishing the Tour of Italy and the latter finishing the Vuelta a España.

Deignan (24) made a strong impression in that Tour of Spain, placing 10th, 12th and 16th on the mountain stages. He had raced little in 2006 and 2007 because of illness and injury, and so his form bodes well for the future.

Roche (23) took a number of high finishes in France, including fifth in the Polynormande and sixth in the Grand Prix de Denain, both 1.1-ranked events, while in Ireland he won the national time-trial title.

Roche's 21-year-old cousin Daniel Martin will be joining the duo in the professional ranks next year, netting a pro contract with Team Slipstream thanks to strong riding on the under-23 circuit. His wins included the GP Rayol Canadel and Tour de Savoie as well as the points competition in the Giro della Valle d'Aosta and the mountains classification in the Ronde de l'Isard.

Ireland's mountain-bike contingent were also in the mix during 2007. Ben Reid and Seanan O'Riordan impressed in the world downhill championships, each posting 14th in his category.

National champion Reid took that placing in the senior event while O'Riordan made an impact in the junior division.

Of the older riders on the international circuit, David O'Loughlin took his third national road-race championship title and then went on to finish third on the final stage of the Tour of Ireland and seventh in the individual pursuit at the recent Beijing World Cup.

Siobhán Dervan fared well in international races and netted her third straight win in the Irish road-race championship. Robin Seymour took yet another title in the cyclo-cross and cross-country mountain-bike championships, and Beth McCluskey landed the women's MTB crown.

WEEKEND FIXTURES: Friday - Sunday: Winter training camp, Kerry (contact Matt Lacey at 087 2258159 for details). Saturday: Winter Trail Quest league, Seaforde (first races at 10.30am). Sunday: TC Racing cyclo-cross, Lough Ramor, Virginia, Co Cavan (first races at 11.45 am); Connacht MTB League, round 4, Ross Wood, Rosscahil (starts noon).