Scanlon rides into deal with French team

CYCLING: Mark Scanlon's excellent third place in the Grand Prix Isbergues last Sunday has almost certainly ensured a contract with the AG2r team for 2003. The 21-year-old amateur raised quite a few eyebrows when he sprinted home to the fore of the 1.2-ranked race, and with many of the sport's big names finishing behind him it is only a matter of time before he is landing prestigious wins in the professional ranks.

Scanlon is expected to sign a contract with AG2r in the next fortnight, after which he will spearhead the Irish campaign in the world championships in Zolder, Belgium. He will finalise his preparation with two more races in the AG2r jersey; the three-day Paris-Corrèze, starting today, and Paris-Bourges on October 3rd.

Cycling Ireland has announced the full line-up of the squads for the Belgium championships, which run from October 8th-13th. Scanlon, Dermot Nally, Denis Lynch, Philip Deignan and Gary McQuaid comprise the under-23 team, while Nicolas Roche, Páidí O'Brien, Theo Hardwick, Andrew McQuaid and Micheál Concannon are the junior entrants. US professional David O'Loughlin and France-based Geraldine Gill will ride the time trial and road race in the elite categories.

On the subject of championships, Paul Doyle's excellent second in the points race of the World Masters Track championship last weekend was a huge boost for the Irish track scene. The discipline has been in limbo this year due to delays in resurfacing of the Sundrive road facility, but the result shows what is achievable in the future.

Cycling Ireland's track commission will bring squads to the Manchester velodrome early next month, with junior and underage riders testing the boards on November 5th-6th and the senior men and women following suit one week later. National criterium champion Doyle will be one of those in attendance.

It may be almost season's end, but Irish women have their toughest home test of the year next weekend in the TQ Paper International two-day event. A strong field has been confirmed, with riders from the Dutch and English national squads among those travelling for next Saturday's opening 75-kilometre road race around north county Dublin.

Last year's victor, Ester Van der Helm, and team-mate Sharon Van Essen will lead the first of two Dutch teams, the curiously titled Moving Ladies - Groenewoud, while the Allemaria Victrix selection and the German RG-Berlin Charlottenburg team complete the continental entries.

The Irish national selection is comprised of Louise Moriarty, Lorraine Manning, Roisín Kennedy, Kate Rudd, Gilliam McDarby and either Tarja Owens or Susan O'Mara, depending on Owens's availability. The organisers expect a field of 40 to 50 riders, a healthy turnout for this time of year.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Sunday 29th: IVCA 26-mile Sanyo Cup 2 Up TT, Batterstown, starts 10 a.m. Tour of Monaghan Charity Cycles, Emyvale Leisure Centre. Ring Seamus at 087 2719202 for details.