THE expected announcement came from Irish cycling headquarters in Dublin yesterday that David McCann's selection for the Olympic road race had been submitted to the Olympic Council of Ireland for ratification.
After McCann's triumph in the Manx International in the Isle of Man last Thursday, he was an automatic choice to fill the vacancy on the team to represent Ireland in Atlanta. The national team director, Alasdair MacLennan, confirmed this yesterday when he nominated the 23 year old Belfast man to the OCI.
The Olympic Council meeting was scheduled for tomorrow evening in Dublin, but it has been deferred until Thursday when all those who are to represent Ireland at the Games will be confirmed.
Philip Collins and Declan Lonergan qualified for the 1,000 metres time trial and points race on the track in Atlanta, while Martin Earley and Alastair Martin are in the new mountain bike event. But the late vacancy for the road race only arose when some countries did not accept their full allocations.
A total of 34 countries qualified for the road race on July 31st, and, after the international cycling union then issued wild card choices, there were still some vacancies and Ireland were invited to fill one place in the lineup of 200.
McCann, of the Phoenix Club, has been the man in form in domestic events in recent weeks, but MacLennan insisted a top ranking performance in international competition was required to clinch selection. McCann provided that in the Isle of Man.
He was involved in the action at the front from the start of the three laps of the 37M mile TT circuit, and he then went on out of a leading group of seven near the end and held on to win in great style.
McCann was at Dundalk on Sunday but decided to have a rest and did not take part in the race there. He is to contest the classic league event at Naas on Sunday and will then be in the national road race championship at Portglenone the following Sunday.
Collins leaves with MacLennan on July 8th to join US based Lonergan and prepare for their events. McCann then goes to Atlanta with Farley and Martin on July 15th. The mountain bike event is on the day before the road race.
