Philip Deignan in positive frame of mind ahead of Sunday’s start of Tour of California

Morale on the up after taking his first victory in almost four years, Philip Deignan will line out on Sunday at the start of the Tour of California believing he can play a big part in the race.

The Letterkenny rider has had more moments of frustration than encouragement in the time since he won a stage and finished ninth overall in the 2009 Vuelta a España, with injury and illness preventing him from building on those career-best results.

However he turned things around last weekend when he grabbed the final overall victory in the Tour of the Gila. "It has been a long time since I won a race . . . I almost forgot what it felt like," he told The Irish Times this week. "It is great for the morale going into California."

Now 29 years of age, Deignan is a strong climber and will be one of the team leaders for the UnitedHealthcare squad in the 2.HC race. Beginning on Sunday and running until May 19th, the mountain stages could give him a platform for a high overall finish. “I would like to try for a good general classification result,” said Deignan. “Gila showed I am going well. If something happens during the week and that goal doesn’t work out, then I will try for stages.”

In other news, three Irish riders have been named to the An Post Chainreaction Seán Kelly team for the An Post Rás. While six riders are in the running for five places, manager Kurt Bogaerts has said 2009 stage winner Sam Bennett, Ronan McLaughlin and Seán Downey will almost certainly take part.

The remaining two places will be drawn from the Briton Mark McNally, the New Zealander Shane Archbold and the Belgian Nicolas Vereecken. "We will make the final selection based on the outcome of the Rund um Koln in Germany on Sunday," said Bogaerts.
FIXTURES – Saturday: Tommy Givan Memorial: Starts 10 am at Hillsborough Village centre. Sunday: Shay Elliott memorial, starts 11am from Bray Wheelers clubhouse; Tour of the Mournes, starts 10.30 am from Newry Sports Centre; Dunsay GP (incorporating Women's national league round 4), starts 11am; Connacht road race league, starts 11am from Swinford Amenity Centre; XC NPS round 3, Ticknock. First races 11am.