CYCLING COLUMN:THE 2008 and 2009 champions Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche will line out in the national road race championships this Sunday as favourites for the 99-mile event.
Both riders have been competing at ProTour level this season and have shown strong form. With the absence of Philip Deignan (Cervélo Test Team), who due to illness pulled out from the Tour de Suisse, the two cousins will be the ones to watch in the Sligo race.
Roche is preparing for his second Tour de France and decided not to travel back for Wednesday’s Stephen Roche Grand Prix in Dundrum. Martin also gave it a miss, although he was in attendance and saw Mick Redden (Eurocycles) edge out Stephen O’Sullivan (Engraveit.ie), who celebrated too soon and thus lost out.
Roche won last year and has enjoyed his time wearing the distinctive white and green kit.
“I think the Irish champion’s jersey has done a lot for me,” he said recently. “It has been so easy to pick out on TV that I think it brought a lot of interest for those watching the Tour, particularly the Irish public.”
He will be the sole Irish competitor in this year’s Tour and wants to wear it again at the start next weekend.
“It feels great to have that jersey – I love it, and I will go and fight to defend it.”
Martin soloed to victory two years ago in a dominant display and showed similar form last Saturday when he was best in the Dublin round of the Halfords Tour Series.
“I’m still very tired from the Giro d’Italia,” he said, “but I have held off taking a break until after the nationals.”
Last year’s runner-up David O’Loughlin will be one of several An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team riders who will take part.
O’Loughlin won the Halfords race one week ago in Belfast, and has taken three road race championships.
Connor McConvey, Mark Cassidy and Matt Brammeier will also represent the team on Sunday, but 2009 bronze medallist Paídi O’Brien and Ronan McLaughlin will miss out due to injury.
Others to watch include multiple champion David McCann (Giant Asia) and promising young riders Sam Bennett and Philip Lavery.
The women’s road race will take place over six laps of a 8.25-mile circuit. Multiple champion Siobhán Horgan returned to form recently when she was third in the Poitou-Charentes French Cup race. She will be up against several strong riders, including defending champion Heather Wilson and runner-up Olivia Dillon.
The veterans’ championship will also take place tomorrow, with the over-40 riders covering eight laps.
Cycling Ireland president Rory Wyley triumphed last year and will aim to do so again.
The junior road race will take place on Sunday; Charles Prendergast (Mayo Wheelers) won 12 months ago.
FIXTURES:Saturday: National women's and veterans' road race championships, Sligo; start 11am; IVCA 16km TT championships, Moy Valley, 9.15am; XCNPS Round 6, Dunmore mountain; Galway criterium, starts 5pm. Saturday-Sunday: DH NPS Round 7, Clonmel. Sunday: National road race championship (Elite/Junior), starts 1pm; IVCA Founders 50, Summerhill, 9.15.
