While the numbers taking part in races for juniors continue to drop alarmingly, Pat McQuaid, organiser of the Junior Tour of Ireland, has succeeded in gathering a good representative line-up for Sunday's opening stage from Coleraine to Belfast. The eightday promotion is sponsored by the League of Credit Unions.

There is an entry of 79, headed by the Ireland team of Mark Scanlon, David Kenneally, Shane Prendergast and Stephen Gallagher. Scanlon, second last year after winning the last two stages, has been outstanding this season and is the big hope to register another home win. His impressive list of successes this season includes the junior championship and several races against seniors. The international opposition consists of teams representing Britain, Belgium, Estonia, Holland, Canada and Scotland. The British squad is led by junior champion Yanto Barker, while one of the regional English selections, Team Brite, is headed by triple British junior track champion Bradley Wiggins, who last month also won the pursuit title at the World junior track championships in Cuba. Other teams are from Leinster, Ulster, Connacht, Cork, Tuam, Bray Wheelers, Merseyside, Lincoln and the English Midlands

The Estonians are back for the first time since 1991 and, with the Belgians and British, are expected to be strong challengers for the honours. But Scanlon can repel them all. The start on Sunday (2.0) is in Coleraine, with stage one over 65 miles to Belfast. On Monday (11.0) there is 60 miles to Downpatrick, with 80 miles to Clones on Tuesday and 66 miles the next day to Sligo.

On Thursday morning (9.0) there will be a six-mile time trial at Sligo followed in the afternoon (2.0) by 42 miles on to Ballina. Next Friday's stage seven is over 64 miles to Tuam, with a transfer to Portarlington tomorrow week for the penultimate stage of 72 miles to Carlow that takes in the dreaded ascent of The Cut. The Tour finishes with a 30-mile Sunday criterium in Dublin over a circuit at Mount Street.

The 25 miles time trial championship has been added to the list of fixtures and will be decided on the fast Moira-Glenavy Road course tomorrow. Last Saturday Scott Hamilton retained the 10 miles title at Banbridge and he should complete the double again. The action continues in the North on Sunday with the Tour of Armagh the only race for seniors.