CYCLING: The promising Daniel Martin will today begin what is arguably the biggest race of his amateur career when he lines out in the Giro d'Italia Dilettanti, or Baby Giro. The 10-day race is in effect a mini Tour of Italy for under-26 riders, and, with previous winners including Marco Pantani, Gilberto Simoni and Danilo di Luca, is seen as a strong predictor of talent for the sport.
The race starts with an 8.5km prologue from Caserta to Belvedere di San Leucio, and continues with nine road stages. It totals 1,251.5km.
Martin (19), a nephew of Stephen Roche, previously competed with an English licence but declared for Ireland this season.
He has been racing with the VC La Pomme squad in Marseille and finished a fine eighth overall in the recent Ronde de l'Izard, the climber thus securing his selection for the Italian Tour.
Meanwhile, Irish women have also been performing well in Europe. Louise Moriarty won the South Netherlands regional championships last Monday and, prior to that, finished 12th in the Rad Bundesliga Frauen in Karbach, Germany.
She was also sixth in the Omloop van Het Ronostrand in the Netherlands.
One day earlier, Irish road race champion Siobhán Dervan was sixth in an the 80km race held in Merchtem, the home town of the Belgian-based Sean Kelly Cycling Academy. Julie O'Hagan, Heather Wilson and Kate Rudd also fared well, placing 13th, 19th and 21st overall.
Dervan, O'Hagan and Wilson then finished fifth, 10th and 11th in the following day's hilly, 90km race held in Neupre.
In other news, Ciarán Power was due to continue his return to international racing with participation in the second leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown series late yesterday. He and team-mate David were selected for the Navigators Insurance squad for the 75-mile Reading Classic and, providing they ride well, may be chosen for the prestigious, 144-mile Philadelphia International Championship on Sunday.
A five-man Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group selection has been announced for the 2.2-ranked Tour de Beauce, which will be held in Canada next week.
There, Simon Kelly will hope to build on the form which saw him finish an excellent sixth in the FBD Insurance Rás. He will be joined by Paul Healion, Derek Burke, Conor Murphy and former Tonnisteiner professional Morgan Fox.
Finally, there is a good programme of racing here this weekend. Events include track racing at Sundrive Road tomorrow, the Kilpeddar Open near the Glen of the Downs and the Ballinrobe Two-Day for underage riders.
Saturday: Leinster Youth Grass Track & Skills. Contact Alan Bingham at 087 7603487; Sundrive Track Racing, Eamonn Ceannt Park, sign on at 10.30am; Audi GP, Ballynure, Co Antrim, 11am. Kilpeddar Open (including youth racing). Sign on for all events takes place outside the Willow Grove pub, Deveraux, Kilpeddar from 10am (look for signs at Glen of the Downs); Dromora Hill Climb, Dromora, 6pm; Western Lakes CC Youth Two-Day, Ballinrobe, contact Mary Munroe pn 087 2820623. Sunday: Rás Chonamara, Furbo beach, 1pm; Newbridge Grand Prix, sign on in Greyhound Stadium, Milltown Road, starts 12.30pm; Limerick County RR Champs, starts 1 pm, call Liam Collins at 061 307178. Monday: Stagg Cycles Three-Day. First stage sign on at Caffreys Pub, Batterstown, racing starts 7 pm.
