AFTER disappointing performances in the Hessen Rundfahrt Tour in Germany last week, when David McCann was the only Irish finisher, another team has left to represent Ireland in the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan.
There was a late alteration for the seven day event which starts on Monday, with Paul Griffin replacing Tommy Evans.
McCann, Peter Daly, Griffin, Richie McCauley and Ian Chivers left Dublin for the long trip to Sapporo via London and Osaka, accompanied by manager Tony Allen, mechanic Tony Campbell, masseur John Hammond and Brian Connaughton, who is travelling as the FIC representative.
McCann was 47th of 60 finishers from 120 starters in the German tour, also over seven days. Obviously some of the team were not properly prepared for the testing assignment: Evans retired on the second day, followed on stage three by Mark Hutton and Micheal Fitzgerald.
Daly, who was close to McCann in the overall classification, was suffering in the cold and wet from a sore knee following a fall on the fifth stage and manager Tony Campbell advised him to withdraw on the second last day. Newcomer Padraic Quinn was still there after a promising debut in the Ireland jersey, but he was finding the going increasingly difficult and Campbell also pulled him out on the penultimate stage.
Because of his obvious loss of form, Evans withdrew from the team for Japan and Griffin was delighted to accept the late invitation.
Griffin, of the Lee Strandclub An Tralee, won the classic league during the season, but his only international engagement was the Tour of the Cotswolds in August. According to my records he was the most successful rider: when he led the way at the finish of the Mid Eastern region's league race last Saturday it was his 12th win, and he was beaten only by Colm Bracken in the Phoenix Park on Sunday morning.
The final event in the Mid Eastern league has been switched from Bray tomorrow to the course at the rear of Dublin Airport today (11.0). But only the minor placings have to be resolved as Keith Bannon has a decisive lead. He has 42 points to 25 for Bracken.
The national team director, Alasdair MacLennan, confirmed on his return from holidays that Scott Hamilton will contest both the under 23 time trial event at the World championships in Lugano on October 9th and the under 23 road race.
But because none of the others in that age group have enhanced their prospects in recent outings there may not be a full Irish team in the road race. MacLennan will decide next week if anyone else will accompany the Maryland Wheelers man.
MacLennan added that New York based Deirdre Murphy goes for the women's road event.
