McCann looks set for victory

With just one stage remaining in the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan, David McCann looks all but assured of victory.

The CCC Mat professional, racing in the world-ranked race with the Irish team, proved again that he is on a level above the rest of the field in taking his third win on yesterday's sixth stage.

McCann, who has held the lead since the second day, was the only rider able to stay with Shimano Japan's Tomoya Kanou when he attacked on the final uphill climb to the finish line.

There, McCann easily distanced him to win by three seconds and increased his overall lead to 1 minute and 43 seconds over Kanou.

He also seized hold of the points jersey from team-mate Paul Griffin, who placed seventh yesterday and slipped to third overall.

Griffin does, however, have the consolation of a guaranteed win in the mountains classification competition.

The Irish squad are also leading the team classification by over four minutes. Robin Seymour was 60th in the elite cross-country event in the World Mountain Bike championships in Vail, Colorado.

Competing at 9,000 feet, Seymour was unable to match his 34th place of last year.

However, he drew some consolation from the fact that he finished within 171/2 minutes of race winner Roland Green of Canada, a tighter time gap than might be expected on such a hard course.

Tarja Owens was unwell and thus forced to withdraw before the start the women's elite race, ultimately won by US rider Alison Dunlap.

Meanwhile, in the downhill competitions, Glynn O'Brien was 44th, Andrew Yoong 50th and John Lawlor 57th in the elite race, while Colin Ross and William Corry were 31st and 34th respectively in the junior contest.

Finally Denis Lynch was best of the Irish in the Tour of the Peaks, finishing 15th.

Provision rider Mark Lovatt took the honours for the fourth year in succession.