A TRIP to the warmth of Kuala Lumpur to take part in the Tour of Malaysia is a nice way to start the new season. The first races on the home scene are over a north County Dublin circuit and at Banbridge next Saturday and then at Navan and Blarney the next day. But Richie McCauley, Tommy Evans, David Peelo, Barry Monaghan and Mel Sutcliffe leave on Monday to swing into action with Declan Lonergan in the nine day Malaysia tour which starts next Thursday.
Olympic track hopeful Lonergan goes direct from his American base in Sacramento and the others travel out accompanied by manager Alasdair MacLennan, mechanic John Keegan and Joan Scanlon, who is the team masseuse.
There will be another Irishman in the line up as Aidan Duff rides with his French team, Vendee U. As the Bray man had a promising start to the season he was named in the squad of six who will be representing France.
There is a prize fund of £250,000 on offer. A total of 20 international teams will be in the lineup with local selections, including Australia, Canada, South Africa, Japan, China, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. The British team is Chris Newton, Rob Hayles, Matt Illingworth, Simon Lillistone, Bryan Steel and John Tanner.
The Irish party fly to Kuala Lumpur and then on to the northern island of Langkawi, where the Malaysian president resides, for the opening stage there next Thursday. It is a 75 kilometres criterium and after a route down to Singapore with some long stages, including one in excess of 200 kilometres and another very hilly 63 kilometres. The finish is back on Langkawi on Sunday, March 10th.
It is a new event and MacLennan said: "We are going into the unknown and we will just have to wait and see how things go. The riders will not be under any great pressure but if opportunities arise hopefully they can be taken."
Finn O'Sullivan has secured a place in a Belgian trade team, FE Maestro, based at Mechelen, north of Brussels, and he leaves next week to try and make the breakthrough on the Continental scene. The 27 year old Dubliner who was with the Balbriggan club last season, has over three years experience of racing in France and Spain and, after 2,000 miles of training since Christmas, he said he is confident of establishing himself in the new squad.
Paul Giles will be one of O'Sullivan's team mates also included are Englishmen Tim Harris and Gary Speight along with Andy Roche from the Isle of Man.
O'Sullivan starts off next weekend with Het Volk followed by Kuurme Brussels Kuurme and then alter a race in France on March 10th a five day event in Italy is on his schedule and also another stage race in Portugal A few good early placings could set him on the road to fame and fortune.
Following the successful coaching course in Carlow last weekend for seniors it's the turn of the juniors there today and tomorrow. Bobby Power and Philip Cassidy will be in attendance to pass on some of their experience while Gary O'Toole is listed as a guest speaker today.
Pierce Butler has accepted the invitation to fill the vacancy on the FIC Board caused by the resignation of John Joe Daly, who headed the committee with responsibility for under age racing. Last year Butler was chairman of the development committee while he had charge of under age affairs the year before and he has agreed to take up the important role again.
