CYCLING:NATIONAL TITLE holder Roger Aiken is not confident of defending his title in the All Ireland cyclo cross championships, to be run in Lurgan Park this Sunday.

Aiken is the only rider to have beaten Robin Seymour in recent editions of the championships. The latter has won 15 titles, while Aiken broke his then-unbeaten streak in 2005. He also took gold last year, dominating the race.

This time round, it would seem that he doesn't consider himself in the necessary shape. "My form is terrible," the Banbridge CC rider said yesterday.

"In December I did nothing for the cyclocross season, I had other commitments. I've been in Belgium for five days over Christmas and this only highlighted my poor form. I started four races and finished one."

Aiken will nevertheless line out in the Lurgan Park event hoping to feel good on the day. It is a fast flowing course and some modifications have been introduced for the race. It will include a new loop featuring a climb plus a lightly-forested section, as well as a modified pit lane where bikes can be quickly changed when they become clogged with mud.

He is clear as to who will be the ones to watch. "Without a doubt, my main rivals will be Robin Seymour and Conor McConvey," he said.

Seymour will head to Lurgan feeling relatively confident about his chances. He has shown fine form of late, dominating the four-round Supercross series and also winning the recent Christmas Cross event. He is clearly the most experienced of the Irish off-road riders, having taken those 15 cyclo cross titles as well as 15 consecutive mountainbike championships. He competed in his third Olympics last summer, although didn't reach top form there.

McConvey will be tipped by others as a potential winner, however. He finished a close second to Seymour in the final round of the Supercross league, crossing the line just three seconds back, and is seen by many as the likely successor to the multiple cross and mountainbike champion.

In 2008 he finished an excellent second in the under-23 classification of the UCI mountainbike World Cup race held in Bromont. He was also runner-up to Seymour in the national MTB championships.

The 19 year old will be based in Fayance in France this coming season, living close to team-mate Miguel Martinez, who won the Olympic MTB title in Sydney.

Whatever way things go for Aiken on Sunday, he hints that he might try some track racing. "In 2009 there might be another discipline of the sport to think about," he said.

Cycling Ireland is putting a strong emphasis on velodrome competition, and expects to get funding in order to develop riders in this area.

"However if that doesn't happen, then I will probably ride the odd road race. I'd also like to ride some national MTB events." Fixtures: Sunday: National cyclo cross championships, Lurgan Park. First races start at 11.30, main event at 13.30.

Donal Crowley Memorial Sportive. Sign on from 9.30 in Blarney GAA club.