CYCLING: With the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under now less than three weeks away, Irish national road race champion Mark Scanlon is putting the finishing touches to his pre-season preparation. Scanlon left his hometown of Sligo yesterday for France, where he will put in some intensive kilometres with his AG2r team-mates in advance of their departure for Australia and the start of the Tour Down Under on January 21st.
The former world junior champion has been training hard for his professional debut with the first division team, and, following his impressive trial in September, is expected by team management to go on to a promising career in the pro peloton.
Last Sunday Scanlon provided an indication of his good early-season strength when he outsprinted the American-based professional and FBD Milk Rás champion Ciarán Power to win the Rás an Turcaí event in Carraroe, Galway. Both were part of a six-man breakaway which went clear on the fourth of six laps and, after working well together to gain time over the main bunch, Scanlon and Power forged ahead in the final run-in to the finish to scrap it out together for the first prize.
Third place went to Scanlon's coach Padraig Marrey (Western Lakes CC), who edged out Cycleways' Phil Cassidy and Newbridge CC's Finn O'Sullivan in their own dash for the line.
In other news, Lance Armstrong's run of Tour de France wins has resulted in a spate of recent awards, with USA Today and CBS Sportsline joining the Associated Press in awarding him the title of Male Athlete of the Year. The four-time Tour winner was also named the Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year.
One spin-off is that Armstrong's success has indirectly improved the lot of Ciarán Power and David O'Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardia Sports), who will both compete once more on an expanding American pro circuit this season. The US scene is growing in reputation and if Power and O'Loughlin can build on their 2002 displays, they should reap good rewards this year.
RÁS AN TURCAÍ (in Carraroe): 1, M Scanlon (AG2r); 2, C Power (Navigators); 3, P Marrey (Western Lakes CC); 4, P Cassidy (Cycleways); 5, F O'Sullivan (Newbridge CC) First veteran: Ciarán Dyer (Western Lakes CC); junior: Colm Crawley (Balbriggan); woman: Deirdre McGrath (Galway Triathlon Club) Special Merit Award: David O'Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardia Sport).
