Cycling ColumnIrish duo David McCann and Paul Griffin played an invaluable part in helping their Giant Asia team achieve its big end-of-season goal yesterday, with the squad taking the first two places overall plus the team prize in the Tour of Taiwan.
The 2.2-ranked race is the home event for the Giant Asia squad and victory there had been targeted as a priority by the team management.
The Irish professionals' team-mates Ahad Kazemisarai and Ghader Mizbani had jumped to first and second overall when they took a one-two on Tuesday's crucial mountain stage to Wuling.
That 100-kilometre race finished with a gruelling 50-kilometre climb that upended the general classification. McCann and Griffin placed fifth and ninth respectively, moving to the same positions overall.
Yesterday's final 220-kilometre stage to Taitung saw a dangerous 13-man break go clear and open up a seven-minute lead. McCann, Griffin and the rest of the squad rode hard to reduce this gap before the finish, their teeth-gritting team time trial ensuring the leaders had just one minute and 55 seconds by the line. The significance was that Kazemisarai and Mizbani held onto first and second overall, although McCann and Griffin dropped to sixth and eleventh. Kazakh rider Yevgeniy Yakovlev took the stage.
The Irishmen will now stay in Taiwan for a week before travelling to Japan for the 1.2-ranked Tour de Okinawa, their last big race of the season. Both have performed strongly this year and it is expected that they will be offered new contracts by the team for 2006.
Like McCann and Griffin, Eugene Moriarty and Andrew McQuaid are also winding up their season in warmer climes. They will compete as part of the Sycamore Print team in the six-day, 10-stage Tour Of Southland next week.
New Zealand's premier race gets underway on Monday and will feature riders from Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Holland, the US and New Zealand. Many of those who competed in the recent Herald Sun Tour will line out in the 2.2-ranked event.
Finally, the Seán Kelly Academy will function as a base for a number of cyclo-cross races in Belgium next week. Bed and breakfast costs are €10, with transport to the races to be provided. A limited number of places are available. For more details on this, contact Frank Campbell at 0044 7712186910.
Fixtures: Saturday: Women's training spin and coffee stop. Meet at 10am, Papal Cross, Phoenix Park. This will be run off at a gentle speed and all are welcome. Ballymena Road Club cyclo-cross, Ecos Centre, Ballymena. Underage races start 11am, main events at noon. Prizes for cyclo-cross and MTB bikes.
Sunday: Cyclo Cross race, Sports Complex Kilcullen. First race starts at noon. For more information contact Liam Walker at 087 6441565 or Barry Donnelly at 0879732231.
