Opening stages crucial

CYCLING/Tour of Ireland:Irish team captains Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan have stressed the importance of tomorrow's first stage of the Tour of Ireland, which takes the riders 174 kilometres from Kilkenny to Cork and concludes with two ascents of the leg-breaking St Patrick's Hill.

Speaking at a press conference held in the team's Lyrath Estate Hotel yesterday, the France-based professionals said it was crucial to be attentive on the opening stages of the five-day race. "Like everyone else who will have a (race) number on his back, I came here with the hope of winning," said Roche, who honed his form with a good ride in last week's Tour de l'Ain. "But I will take each day at it comes. The overall classification could depend on what happens on the first day.

"I think it is one of those races where there is competition everywhere and from everybody. It is very hard to predict because there are some short stages, some long stages, stages that are hard but not too hard."

Deignan has had an intense run-up to the race, finishing the nine-day Deutschland Tour on Saturday and then flying to Ireland.

"It was good. The first five days went pretty well, I was getting better and better each day, and then towards the end I was getting a bit tired. That is normal for the first big race back after two months of not competing (due to injury). But I got through it okay, so I hope my body recovers and I will be going all right this week," he said.

Deignan agreed with Roche that day one will be important. "I think the first stage is going to be pretty crucial, going up St Patrick's Hill. Personally, I think the first couple of stages are definitely the hillier ones so I'd like to go well on those ones."

The duo will be supported by five other Irish riders - Paul Griffin, Brian Kenneally, Dermot Nally, Martyn Irvine and Derek Burke.

A very strong overseas contingent means Irish success is far from guaranteed. Some of the big foreign riders will give their own views and predictions to the media today.