The squad, team management and many within the sport may have held high hopes for Ireland's chances in Plouay last week, but instead the world championship races brought modest results and long faces from those aspiring for good rides. The best performance of the week was David O'Loughlin's excellent 10th overall in the under-23 time-trial.
As for the road race, O'Loughlin and the 1998 world junior champion Mark Scanlon had been tipped as possible medal contenders, but instead O'Loughlin had to settle for 60th place after being delayed behind a crash before the finishing sprint. Scanlon, meanwhile, was clearly fatigued from his guest slot with the Linda McCartney team and ended up withdrawing from a race which otherwise would have suited him perfectly.
In many ways their fortunes set the tone for the other Irish riders. Of the four junior cyclists, Tim Cassidy rode well despite a broken pedal and finished 63rd, while crashes and bike problems put paid to the chances of Philip Deignan, Michael Dennehy and Colin Armstrong, plus woman's representative Geraldine Gill.
Stephen Gallagher was also ruled out of the under-23 road race with a head injurycausing fall. Dermot Nally dedicated himself to team duties and finished 99th, 15 minutes 49 seconds behind winner Evgeni Petrov. It was an anti-climactic end to a good season for Irish cycling.
Ciaran Power made a strong debut in the paid ranks with an number of high placings,
including two top 10 finishes in the Giro d'Italia, and spearheaded a successful Irish team in the recent Herald Sun Tour. David McCann rode exceptionally well among the professional contingent in the Olympic road race, while McCann, O'Loughin, Brian Kenneally and Tommy Evans all impressed in world-ranked English races.
In addition, Mark Scanlon got his continuing ascent towards the summit back on track when he returned from an injury afflicted 1999 season to take 12 wins this year. At just 20 years of age, his reward is a professional contract with the Linda McCartney team next season. So where now from here?
Power and Scanlon are both confirmed for next year's vegetarian team, who unfortunately did not offer Brian Kenneally a slot after his trial, while McCann and O'Loughlin are still holding out in hope of securing pro contracts. Morgan Fox, sidelined through glandular fever this year, is awaiting confirmation that the Tonissteiner team will re-sign him for 2001.
There is still much uncertainty, but compared to the doldrums of five years ago, things are still moving forward.
The riders now break for the winter season; next year will tell if the current progression continues, but in the meantime the emphasis of the ICF should shift towards defining a strategy to increase participation in the sport and to further the development of young cyclists.
