Power provides the highlight in Athens

CYCLING 2004 review: This year was an encouraging one for Irish cycling, with an upward trend continuing with regard to international performances. Ciarán Power's excellent 13th place from 144 starters in the Olympic road race was the highlight of the season and, in light of the Waterford Crystal scandal, arguably the brightest Irish performance in Athens.

The Waterford rider took a gamble in preparing specifically for the 224km event, electing to do high-speed motorpacing rides rather than competing in several important races with his Navigators team. Had he flopped in Athens he would have been under pressure from the US squad.

Mark Scanlon won two big races in Estonia in May and became the first Irish participant in 11 years in the Tour de France. The Sligoman was impressive during the first week, helping team-mates Jaan Kirsipuu and Jean Patrick Nazon to stage wins, then rode solidly in the mountains to reach Paris.

In September, Northern rider Ben Reid finished a mere 4/100ths of a second off a bronze medal in the junior world downhill mountain bike championships. With fellow downhiller Jamie Popham, who was fifth in the European championships, he is one of most promising young riders on the circuit.

Also riding well on the off-road circuit were Peter Buggle, fourth in the world masters championship, and Robin Seymour, who placed 31st in the elite world cross-country title race.

Philip Deignan also has a bright future in store. The Donegal rider won an under-23 World Cup event in France and secured a pro contract with Scanlon's Ag2R team for the next two years. His VC La Pomme team-mate Nicolas Roche also got a professional deal.

At home, David McCann won the FBD Milk Rás, David O'Loughlin and Julie O'Hagan became national road race champions and Louise Moriarty took the International Women's Two-Day. Robin Seymour won his 11th straight mountain bike cross-country title but fell just short of extending his cyclo-cross victory count to 14 consecutive wins, finishing second behind Roger Aiken this month.