Roche and Martin in Tour build-up event

CYCLING: WITH THE Tour de France now less than one month away, Irish professionals Nicolas Roche and Daniel Martin are scheduled to line out on Sunday in one of the main build-up events, the Criterium du Dauphiné. Held by the Tour organisers and run off over eight days, many of the favourites for cycling's top event will use it as part of their preparation.

Roche has been training at altitude in advance of the start and has been working hard to build his form. He has had a quieter season thus far than in 2010, due mainly to winter training disrupted by injury. He was 15th in last year’s Tour and then placed seventh in the Vuelta a España; providing he can hit top form, he will be aiming for a top-10 finish plus a stage win this time round.

Martin competed recently in the Amgen Tour of California, placing a solid 14th overall there. He was third overall in the Volta a Catalunya earlier this year and, on the basis of results such as overall victory in last year’s Tour of Poland, is a rider who could fare very well in the Tour. He’s yet to line out in the race, though, with his scheduled start in 2009 cancelled due to knee problems.

It’s not yet certain he will ride the Tour, but if the Dauphiné goes well, it’s likely the team will make him part of the nine-man squad. He’s one of Garmin-Cervélo’s most promising young riders and riding the race would bring his career to the next level.

Meanwhile, Martin’s father Neil has tipped young Irish rider Seán Downey for a good future. Martin was managing the Ireland Skoda Team in the An Post Rás, which finished last Sunday, and was impressed by how the 20-year-old performed. “I think he could be the next one to move forward, to join Dan and Nicolas in the ranks,” he told The Irish Times. “He’s knocking on doors now, and some day those doors will open.”

Downey finished 11th overall in the race and was best Irish rider.

He has been racing well in France this year and, given his age, he will continue to progress.

Elsewhere, multiple Irish champion Siobhán Horgan raced to an excellent second place in the French Cup GP de Plumelec Morbihan last weekend. She took part in order to help her former team-mate Christine Majerus defend her lead in the series, but ended up taking the runner-up slot behind Julie Beveridge (Vienne Futuroscope), much to her surprise. She hasn’t been racing abroad this season, and so the result suggests a strong summer could be in store.

FIXTURES: Today-Sunday: Rás Dhun na nGall, Ardara. First stage begins 7.30. Saturday: Osborne Butchers criterium, Blarney, starts 7.30pm; Duane Delaney Memorial, Sundrive Road, starts 11.30pm. Sunday: Crowley/Stratton Memorial race, Blarney, starts noon; Swords GP, starts Ballyboughal GAA club at noon. Sunday-Monday: IVCA 2 day, Batterstown. Stage 1 starts at 9.15am.