Scanlon back training and targets criterium

Cycling News round-upIrish professional Mark Scanlon is back up to speed following a touch of ankle tendonitis which ruled him out of the Paris-Nice race. The Sligoman had been due to take part in the inaugural ProTour event with his Ag2R-Prévoyance team, but the injury curtailed his training and prompted him to opt for the Les Monts du Luberon event last Sunday.

Scanlon said yesterday he was fully over the problem and back training as normal. He will compete in Paris-Troyes this Sunday and Cholet-Pays de Loire on the 20th, before a probable start in the 2.HC-ranked Criterium Internationale at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, his team-mate Philip Deignan is still recovering from a bad crash he had in last month's Tour of the Mediterranean. Deignan started the season in strong form but has been unable to train properly since injuring the tendons above his knee in the fall on the Mont Faron stage of the French event.

"It is still dragging on," he said yesterday. "I've rested it and done everything right, but it is taking a lot longer to get over the injury than was originally thought. I hope to be back racing in a couple of weeks, but because I've missed out on training, it's going to be a while before I am back up to full fitness again."

His former team-mate at the VC La Pomme squad, Tim Cassidy, had a good showing last Sunday when placing 13th in the Luberon race. Cassidy is still with the amateur French club, but, if he keeps progressing, seems a good bet to land a pro contract before the end of the season.

Back home, the domestic calendar continues this weekend with a number of events. Tomorrow, the Dunsaney GP takes place in Navan, while the following day road races will be held in Newbridge, Fedamore Village and Seskinore. There will also be a downhill MTB event in Ballycarton.

The Seskinore programme includes the second National League event for women, to be held over either three or four laps of a nine-mile circuit. National road race champion Julie O'Hagan heads the standings after last week's round in Navan. She was active throughout the race, attacking several times and then finally getting clear inside the final five kilometres.

Orla Hendron, Gillian McDarby, Trudy Brown, Julie Mulligan and Jenny Fay completed the top six and took the points on offer.

FIXTURES

Saturday: Dunsaney GP, Navan, 11am. Contact Noel Clarke at 087 2727801.

Sunday: Newbridge GP, 12.30pm. Contact John Malone, 087 2453403.

Rás Luminí, Fedamore Village, Limerick, 1pm. Contact Martin Philips, phone 086 6000708.

McCann Cup (includes women's National League, round two), Seskinore, 1pm. Contact Hugh McCann, phone 028 82 898893 (048 from South).

DH Winter League, Ballycarton. Contact Joe Ward, 079 76276181.