CYCLING/Weekend Preview: Ciarán Power rode strongly in the Navigator team's final European race of the early season when he placed a fine 13th in the 1.1-ranked Grote Scheldeprijs in Belgium.
The early action saw five riders escaping after 85 kilometres, amongst them Irish professional Mark Scanlon of the Ag2r team.
The quintet opened up a maximum lead of five minutes before they were recaptured with 60 kilometres remaining.
A flurry of attacks then followed with four riders eventually opening a decisive lead. Belgian rider Ludovic Capelle proved quickest of this quartet at the finish, crossing the line one second ahead of the main bunch, while Power sprinted home 13th and Scanlon also finished in the same time.
Power now heads to America where he and his team will begin their US-based campaign with a ride in the Tour of Georgia next week.
There is a good line-up of events over the weekend. An impressive field has been assembled for the Credit Union Rás Mumhan in Kerry, which begins today with a 2.6-mile time trial in Killorglin.
Teams from the Netherlands, Britain, Wales and the Isle of Man have all travelled for the event, with 2002 winner Kevin Dawson leading the foreign charge and Paul Griffin and Paddy Moriarty heading the Irish national team.
Meanwhile, 176 riders have been confirmed for the ever-popular Dublin Skip Gorey Three-day, which starts tomorrow with a 65-mile road race from Brittas to Gorey and finishes on Monday.
Mountain bike riders have the opportunity to pick up some valuable world-ranking points with the hosting of an E2 event near Belfast on Sunday.
Irish cycling is mourning the unexpected loss of Liam Horner, a former national champion and highly respected international, who died following an accident last weekend.
The 59-year-old won many big races during his cycling career, including the prestigious Manx International in 1967 and the Tour of Ireland in 1972. He also competed in two Olympic Games.
He is survived by his wife Geraldine, daughters Celine and Jane and sons Neil and Eoin. May he rest in peace.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Today-Monday: Credit Union Rás Mumhan, Killorglin. stage 1, 4.0 pm.
Saturday-Monday: Dublin Skip Gorey three-day, stage 1, Brittas, 12.0.
Sunday: National Points Series X/C round one, Dundonald Ice Bowl, Belfast (E2 event), 12.0 (contact Robert Lamont at 048 90792160 (h) or 048 90735688 (w).
