David McCann could be the next Irishman to gain a place with one of the top Continental trade teams. However, he is unlikely to make the breakthrough in time for the Irish start to the Tour de France in July.

Following his 1996 Manx International victory in the Isle of Man McCann, from Belfast, who will be 25 on St Patrick's Day, got a place in the Festina nursery squad at Pontivy in Brittany last year. Despite an early setback because of illness he made such a favourable impression that they want him back for the 1998 season.

In preparation for the arduous time ahead McCann is off on another coast to coast ride across America, from Florida to California, and, like two years ago, he will be taking part in some races along the way.

Last year McCann trained at home and went with the Irish team to the Tour of Malaysia in February but emerged from that event with a flu bug which he didn't fully recover until August.

He was fourth in the international Ruban Granitier stage race and, after finishing second to Morgan Fox in the Irish championship at the end of June he won two criteriums in France. "When I got going well after the early setback none were better than me in the Pontivy team. I am pleased to get the opportunity to go back there and as I expect to be better prepared this time I hope to make the breakthrough to the big time," he said.

McCann is accompanied on the American trip by Phoenix clubmate Simon Devlin and they are doing it this time as a sponsored charity ride for the Northern Ireland Hospice. They will cover more than 2,000 miles across the US and with the heavy burden of a tent and sleeping bags, plus stops for races and, depending on the wind, it will take them seven or eight weeks.

McCann said: "We will not be sleeping out all the time, only when the weather is good but there are plenty of motels to avail of along the way."

In 1996 McCann met Yorkshireman Colin Laing in Phoenix and Laing, who is a cycle dealer and frame builder there, provided equipment for racing. In the Bisbee five-day event in Arizona McCann was first and second on stages, finished second overall and won the points classification. He had another win in Arizona and, with Laing's assistance again, he aims to take in those events again along with some others.

When the coast to coast ride is completed McCann may contest a few races in California but will probably return to Phoenix to complete his training before rejoining his French team towards the end of March.

While McCann was not asked to go with the Irish team to Malaysia next month he said he would have declined anyway but Malaysia is on his schedule again at the end of the season as he has already been selected for the Northern Ireland squad for the Commonwealth Games in September.