CYCLING: Armed with a recently-won professional contract, Mark Scanlon begins his World Championship campaign today, in the under-23 time trial, as one of the big favourites. Shane Stokes reports

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Mark Scanlon was left reflecting on what had been a disappointing World Championship campaign in Lisbon; 23rd in the time trial, 36th in the road race, the results were respectable, but for a highly ambitious former junior world champion, not good enough.

His storming win in Valkenburg in 1998 had raised expectations. Not just his own, but those of everyone else.

Lisbon prompted a rethink and a return to basics. Scanlon resolved to knuckle down, tighten up on his discipline and return to the guidance of the coach who steered him to his 1998 world title. Padraig Marrey is, according to the rider, a straight talker and his tutelage proved to be just the ticket.

"He told me straight out that I was overweight," Scanlon recounted earlier this year. "That's actually one of the things I like about Padraig, there is no messing around. I had had a lot of problems with injuries over the past couple of seasons and that had made things difficult, but at times my self-discipline was not as good as it should have been. Working again with Padraig changed that; we got back to the old way of training which seems to suit me."

Scanlon returned to his Marseille base in the early days of 2002 and started winning as soon as the races began. Victories in France showed that things were back on track; a bout of tendonitis temporarily slowed the charge, but a storming display in June's national road race championships proved that he was on course.

Scanlon was winning, but he needed a pro trial to maximise his chances of a deal for 2003. Here Stephen Roche stepped in, making use of his contacts to line up a slot as stagiaire (apprentice) with the first division AG2r squad in September. "Mark has great ability, but he needs to show it to the people who matter," Roche said at the time.

Scanlon did just that. His five-week trial was a spectacular success. Just 21, and racing against the world's best, the Sligoman racked up a succession of high placings in big events, including excellent third places in both the Grand Prix of Isbergues and on the final day of the Paris-Correze stage race.

Offered contracts with several teams, he finally opted for the AG2r jersey on Sunday and will begin a two-year deal with them in 2003. But before then, a return to the world championships as one of the big guns. With a contract already in his pocket and the pressure off as a result, he will go into the under-23 events full of confidence.

If anything is to frustrate his chances, it is the nature of the course. Zolder is pancake flat, a strong-man's paradise.Scanlon may be in storming form, but with everyone looking to follow his wheel, it will be hard for him to get a gap and to identify all the important moves. He must gauge his effort, pick his moment and also count on the rest of the Irish team to set things up towards the end of Friday's road race and thus provide him with the best springboard for a medal.

As for today, there is little need for tactics in a time trial. Head down, backside up and teeth gritted all the way, the prime requisites for success are form combined with grit and determination.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Zolder, Belgium)- Schedule: Today - Under-23 time trial; Tomorrow - Junior & women's time trials; Thursday - Elite time trial; Friday - Under-23 road race; Saturday - Junior and women's road races; Sunday - Elite road race