McCann going well in Malaysia, Deignan aiming for Classics

CYCLING ROUND-UP:DAVID McCANN will line out on tomorrow's penultimate stage of the Tour de Langkawi knowing a strong performance should see him take a high placing in the prestigious 2.HC event.

The Giant Asia rider came home in the main bunch on yesterday’s fourth stage, classified as finishing in the same time as sprint victor Taiji Nishitani (Asian Racing Team).

Nishitani out-galloped Michael Matthews (Team Jayco-Skins) and Vidal Celis (Footon-Servetto) into Parit Sulong, becoming the third Japanese winner of a stage in the Malaysian tour.

“I’m feeling better and better, riding myself in,” McCann said of his first race of the season. “It is a bit frustrating that there is not a tougher stage before Genting, but I will just roll on and see what happens. I’ll keep my eyes open, maybe a group will go clear.”

McCann’s main goal is to build form before next week’s Tour of Taiwan, an important race for his sponsors.

Overnight leader Tobias Erler (Tabriz Petrochemical) placed 13th on the stage, in the same time as the other contenders. The German remains five seconds ahead of David Pell (Drapac Porsche Cycling).

The race continues today with a flat 111.5km to Port Dickson.

Elsewhere, Philip Deignan finished in the peloton on yesterday’s second stage of the Tour of Murcia in Spain. Robert Hunter (Garmin Transitions) took his second consecutive sprint victory to stay top of the leaderboard.

Deignan only recently started his season and was caught out on Tuesday, losing some time on the first day of the five-day event.

He will begin today’s 166.5km mountain stage to Alhama de Murcia in 60th place overall, two minutes and 53 seconds behind Hunter.

He wants to hit top form for next month’s Spring Classics.

Irish riders will be in action elsewhere in Europe this weekend. The An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Seán Kelly competitors will compete in two events: Ronan McLaughlin will begin the three-day Driedaagse van West Vlaanderen in Belgium today, while Mark Cassidy, Páidí O’Brien, Connor McConvey and Matt Brammeier will ride Sunday’s De Vlaamse Pijl.

FIXTURES

Saturday:Lally Memorial, Dunboyne, 10am. Track training, Sundrive Road, 10.30am.

Sunday:Haldane Memorial, Newry, 10.30am. Cycleways Cup, Navan, 12.50pm. Pursuits Cup, Limerick. Youth racing, Waterstown Park, Palmerstown, 11am.