McCann set for great tour result

Cycling ColumnTwelfth on yesterday's stage of the Tour de Langkawi, David McCann is set to finish fourth in the mountains classification when the race ends on Sunday. Although there are three stages left, the lack of mountains points up for grabs means he must simply finish the race to take that result.

The Belfastman is also 15th overall, nine minutes and 35 seconds behind leader David George (South Africa), and sixth in the points standings.

Italy's Elio Aggiano (LPR) won yesterday's seventh leg, jumping clear of a nine-man breakaway group two kilometres from the end of the rain-lashed stage and soloing into Kota Tinggi ahead of British champion Russell Downing (Britain) and Bernard van Ulden (Navigators Insurance).

McCann and compatriot Paul Griffin (also Giant Asia) finished safely in the main bunch which came home hot on the heels of van Ulden, some seven seconds after Aggiano raced across the line. Griffin was 57th and lies 34th overall.

Following his disappointment in missing out on a stage win on Wednesday, McCann had talked about going on the attack again yesterday. However, once the stage started, he elected to remain in the bunch.

"I stayed put all day," he said. "My legs were pretty tired after being away all day yesterday. I'll probably take it as easy as possible tomorrow and just focus everything on the time trial."

The race continues today with a short, flat, 72.7-kilometre stage to Segamat. Tomorrow's time trial in Melaka is 16.2 kilometres and, with the Commonwealth Games coming up, McCann is determined to do a big ride.

The 2.HC race concludes on Sunday with a circuit race in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Navigators Insurance professional Ciarán Power underwent surgery on Tuesday in France to correct a long-running leg injury. Tests have confirmed endofibrosis, a blood-flow obstruction in the external iliac artery, producing symptoms of numbness and loss of power.

Navigators manager Ed Beamon said it had been a frustrating for Power and the team. "Mid-season, we were pretty convinced (endofibrosis) was what the problem was. Then when Ciarán went back to Ireland they started doing other things and switched the whole thing around on him. He went to see one specialist and this guy was convinced it was a nerve-passage thing. So it is very frustrating . . . "

Power expects to be back racing before the summer.