Roche gets his season underway in Malaysia

Cycling ColumnIrish rider Nicolas Roche will get his season underway in just over a week when he lines out in the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.

The 23-year-old is scheduled to take part in the 2.HC event, and will travel in advance of the race start on February 9th.

The riders from each team need a few days to adapt to the time difference and sweltering conditions.

Roche has been working hard for several months to prepare for the new season, his fourth pro year in all and his second with the Crédit Agricole squad, and is keen to step up a level in 2008.

If he rides well he could earn a place on his team's selection for the Tour de France, but otherwise should do the Tour of Italy for the second time.

Fellow Irish rider Paul Griffin is another who is due to line out in the Tour de Langkawi. Unlike Roche he has already raced this season, getting things underway in early January in the Jelajah Malaysia race.

The Giant Asia rider was fourth on the first stage of the Asian race, eighth on the toughest mountain leg, fourth in the mountains classification and seventh overall.

Team-mate David McCann also rode well there, placing second on the Genting mountain stage, third overall in the mountains competition and 10th in general classification. However he is unlikely to ride the Malaysian Tour as his wife is due to give birth soon.

In other news, the route of the 2008 FBD Insurance Rás is set to be announced this day next week. Early indications suggest that the penultimate day will take in some of the toughest climbs in Wicklow, this leg concluding with a first-ever stage finish in Roundwood.

The last stage will once again be a road race rather than a criterium, and should leave the final outcome uncertain right until the line.

Finally, last weekend's women's training camp was a considerable success, with almost 60 riders of all levels attending. A number of speakers and coaches gave presentations and advice, with the latter accompanying riders on training spins and providing feedback.

The second training camp will take place on February 23rd and 24th, and should be run along largely the same lines.

[  womens.racing.ireland@gmail.com ]