CYCLING/News: The number of Irish cyclists to compete on the professional circuit this season has increased to six with David O'Loughlin joining John Brady and James Hodnett on the American Ofoto/Lombardi Sports squad, writes Shane Stokes.
O'Loughlin, who lost much of last season through injury, has spent the past months preparing in Australia and is back to full fitness. The Mayo rider will continue to train with the Western Australian Institute of Sport until early February and then will briefly return home before joining his new team-mates in San Francisco.
With Ciarán Power due to compete with the New York-based Navigators team, O'Loughlin's signing means a quartet of Irish riders will be chasing glory in US events this season.
Europe beckons for David McCann and Tarja Owens, who will also to take out professional licences in 2002. Double national champion McCann will finalise his preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester racing with the Polish Ceresit-Henkel squad while Owens recently announced she will compete with the new Tuscan-based twoKtwo team.
There may yet be a seventh pro contract in the making; Dermot Nally expects to be awarded a place on the Selle Italia team later this year.
Former world junior champion Mark Scanlon is vying to follow their example. Twelve months ago the Sligoman was preparing for a season with the Linda McCartney team, but their sudden collapse consigned him to a year racing on the French amateur circuit.
Scanlon will again race with the VC La Pomme team in 2002 and, after some time at home in Sligo, has returned to Marseilles with team-mate Denis Lynch. Tommy Evans will join them next week.
Finally, Owens is organising an introductory mountain-bike session for women on January 26th. All are welcome on the off-road spin. For further details contact 087-7811360 or log on to www.tarjaowens.com.
