Six weeks after the collapse of the Linda McCartney team, it was confirmed yesterday that former world junior champion Mark Scanlon will race for the Nantes 44 squad this season.
The 20-year-old opted to join the French amateur team, with whom Dubliner Aidan Duff raced last season, due to their links with the first division Mercury pro outfit. Scanlon has secured a pro trial with the American team this autumn.
Scanlon and Irish professional Ciaran Power were two notable absentees from the Irish Sports Council Carding Scheme grants announced on Wednesday, which netted nine Irish cyclists a total of £32,000.
Olympians David McCann, Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens each receive £9,000. Downhill mountain bike rider John Lawlor and Irish under-23 road race champion David O'Loughlin both get £3,000, while Tim Cassidy receives £1,200. Daniel Lynch, Jonathan Kelly and Brian Ahern each qualify for a grant of £1,000.
Four riders from Team Ireland get their first official outing together this weekend when Morgan Fox, Brian Kenneally, Michael McNena and Stephen O'Sullivan join Scanlon in Sunday's GP de Lillers. Stephen Gallagher steps in for flu-stricken Tommy Evans.
Meanwhile, bike problems and a recent cold led to the respective retirements of Power and McCann from Swiss races last weekend. Power races in Northern France on Sunday, while McCann will line out in a Croatian three-day event one week from now.
Finally, the Irish Cycling Federation has named Eamon Duffy as the successful applicant for the new position of chief executive.
Meanwhile, all events remain off due to the foot-and-mouth crisis.
