CYCLING/Tour Of Britain: Five years after the last edition of the Protour was held, top class pro racing returns to UK roads this week with the Tour of Britain. Although this represents the first running of the race's current incarnation, an impressive field has been gathered for the five-stage, 2.3-ranked Tour, with some of the sport's biggest teams taking part.
Seven Irish riders will also be lining out at the race start today in Manchester, with Ciarán Power leading the charge.
Power is riding in the colours of the pro Navigators Insurance team and, following his excellent 13th place in the Olympic Games, the Waterford rider will be hoping to make his mark over the next five days.
He is currently trying to attract interest from a first division team and knows that a strong ride on a stage or, preferably, a winning one - would certainly make his search much easier. As is his way, Power was reluctant to make bold statements yesterday.
"I just want to go as well as I can', he said. 'I don't know exactly how I will be going on the distance as it has been a couple of weeks since the Games.
"I have felt pretty good since Athens. I raced in Chicago the weekend after the road race in the US Pro criterium championships and felt really, really strong. But I rode for a team-mate in order to try to get the national champion's jersey for him. That plan didn't work out on the day, but I felt good."
Power flew in from the US yesterday but, providing he recovers from the trip, is hoping to go well.
"I raced here a few years ago in the Protour as an amateur and did a decent ride. It is good to race in the UK - Ireland is pretty close so it is good for the motivation. Hopefully things will work out well."
The Grant Thornton Team Ireland squad is also taking part in the race, with six riders lining out. FBD Milk Rás champion David McCann, national champion David O'Loughlin and Tommy Evans are three experienced internationals, while the under-23 riders Philip Deignan, Tim Cassidy and Páidí O'Brien are trying to build form before the world championships in October.
"The guys are in good shape," said team manager Frank Campbell yesterday.
"The quality of the field is very high but hopefully they will fare well this week. A lot of big pro teams are here and so our lads have an opportunity to show themselves."
Looking to the other riders in the race, Tour de France runner up Andreas Kloden will lead an impressive-looking T-Mobile squad.
The men in magenta are squaring up once again with the US Postal team of Lance Armstrong and a good battle looks to be in store.
While the Texan has ended his season and so will not be lining out at the race start in Manchester today, Jose Azevedo - who was an excellent fifth in the Tour, despite carrying out domestic duties for Armstrong - is certainly capable of the overall victory.
Three other riders from that Tour-winning team will also be in the race, namely Benjamin Noval, Pavel Padrnos and Jose Luis Rubiera. These too will be overall contenders.
The quality of the field is further augmented with teams such as Quick.Step Davitamon, Team CSC, the Credit Agricole squad of British Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins and British road race champion Roger Hammond's MrBookmaker.com team amongst those taking part.
The 2004 Tour of Britain begins today with a 207 kilometre road race which starts and finishes in Manchester.
The riders will tackle two first-category climbs inside the first hour; Ramsbottom Rake and the peculiarly-named Nick of Pendle, both giving ample springboard for those feeling aggressive.
The race then continues with four more stages, culminating with a criterium race on the streets of London on Sunday.
TOUR OF BRITAIN DETAILS: Stage 1(today): Manchester - Manchester, 207 kms Stage 2, Thursday: Leeds - Sheffield, 172.3 kms Stage 3, Friday: Bakewell - Nottingham, 192.1 kms Stage 4, Saturday: Newport to Celtic Manor, South Wales, 160.9 kms Stage 5, Sunday:London Criterium, 72.4 kms
