As Ciaran Power and the rest of the Irish squad count down the days until their Olympic races, another Irish cyclist is gearing up for one of the biggest tests of his sporting career. Kilkenny rider Brian Kenneally flies out to Italy today to meet up with the rest of the Linda McCartney squad, and tomorrow begins a guest slot with the vegetarian outfit.

Beginning such a campaign with the top-ranked Giro del Lazio is a huge task but the 25-year-old is determined to do all he can to support the team's designated captain Max Sciandri. Between then and the following Sunday, Kenneally will contest four other one-day events and later in the month tackles two stage races. Unfortunately, Linda McCartney team manager Sean Yates states that outfit is full for next season, limiting Irish interests in 2001 to Ciaran Power and Mark Scanlon, but the trial is nevertheless a great opportunity for Kenneally to chase a contract with another team, or with the British squad for 2002.

Speaking of Power, after some strong team riding in recent events he has joined the rest of the Irish squad in Australia. Contrary to their schedule, two of the quintet, David McCann and Robin Seymour, opted not to ride the marathon 275 kilometre Melbourne-Warrnambnool event, with McCann racing instead in the Hornsby to Swansea race last Sunday. The Irish national champion was third across the finish line, but was disqualified due to being paced back on by a car after breaking his handlebars. He did, however, take the king of the mountains prize.

With another Irish team starting the Tour of Hokkaido today, it means that there will unfortunately be a below-par field in tomorrow's rescheduled 40kilometre time trial championship in Banbridge. The fifth round of the MTB National Points Series scheduled for Drogheda on Sunday has been cancelled.