O'Loughlin off to promising start

CYCLING/Weekly round-up: David O'Loghlin  has bounced back from an injury-afflicted 2001 season to make a promising start with the Ofoto-Lombardi Sports team in America.

The former national under-23 champion rubbed shoulders with many established US professionals to finish a fine 12th in the Sequioa Classic road race last weekend, and then went on to place 56th of 203 starters in the opening stage of the Redlands Classic this week.

O'Loughlin's performances are a boost to the young neo-pro from Mayo, who has said that he will give up international cycling and go to college at the end of this season if he doesn't perform.

Navigators professional Ciarán Power was eight seconds slower than O'Loughlin in the opening 5km hillclimb time-trial at Redlands, and placed 73rd on the stage. The toughly-contested tour continues until Sunday.

Double road-race champion David McCann is still without a team following the collapse of the Ceresit professional squad last month.

McCann says that there is a possibility that he may find a place with the Austrian third division squad Volksbank-Ideal Bikes, although this depends on the success of their efforts to raise the funds to take him on.

However, the Belfast rider's biggest concern is overcoming the ligament strain which has stopped him training properly for a month.

To French racing, and the VC La Pomme trio of Mark Scanlon, Tommy Evans and Denis Lynch have an important assignment tomorrow when they line out in the Division Three championship race, Les Monts de Luberon.

Meanwhile, Rocky Mountain rider Mark Kenny is preparing for the first event in his off-road season; he will ride the off-road version of the prestigious Sea Otter race from March 22nd-24th, before returning to Europe to race in the MTB World Cup masters events.

At home, there are several events taking place around the country this weekend, including the traditional St Patrick's Day races.

Cidona Carrick rider Eddie O'Donoghue is currently top of the new Cycling Ireland Senior One ranking, with 20 points, while Mick Bolton's second win of the season last weekend sees him leading the Senior Two table. David Byrne and Frazer Duncan lead the Senior Three and junior standings.

Finally, Eurosport's loss has been felt this week by NTL subscribers, who are missing coverage of the Paris-Nice race. The online petition calling for the return of the station is continuing to gather signatures at www.bringbackeurosport.com.

FIXTURES

Tomorrow: Leinster CF League (third round), Batterstown, 11.0; Cicli Sport GP handicap, Moneymore, 12.0. Sunday: Dublin-Drogheda handicap road race, Finglas, 10.0; Ireland West trophy, Westport, 12.0; St Patrick's Day road race, Downpatrick, 11.0; Carrick Challenge Cup, Carrick on Suir, 1.0. Monday: Ras Luimni, Caherconlish, 1.0 .