THERE is still a fortnight to go to the start of the season, but the first Irish team in action in international competition leaves Dublin Airport this evening for Kuala Lumpur and the Tour of Malaysia which starts next Wednesday.
David McCann, Paul Butler, Ciaran Power, Eugene Moriarty, Brian Kenneally and Richie McCauley go with the manager Bernie McCormack, mechanic John Keegan and masseurs Donal O'Connell and Jane Morgan.
McCauley was a stage winner in Malaysia last year, but he is the only survivor from that team. The 12 day event has been up graded and some of the top trade teams will be involved this time over a more testing route.
Frankie Campbell, who heads the FIC committee in charge of international racing, has managed to obtain some details of the Malaysian promotion. He said Ireland will be one of 15 international amateur teams in the line up with 10 professional trade squads and twice world champion Gianni Bugno heads the list.
Unlike last year when the start and finish was on the island of Langkawi, it gets under way on the mainland with a 19 kilometre time trial at Kota Kinabalu and, after a variety of stages including some in. the mountain regions, finishes with a Langkawi criterium on March 2nd.
The longest stage is 202 kilometres and it includes two tough climbs, while the finish on the sixth day, after 71 kilometres, is at the top of a 1,655 metre climb.
There is a familiar opening to the season with the first event of the Mid Eastern region's league and the Banbridge club's handicap at Annaclone on Saturday, March 1st, with the Beechmount Cup races at Navan the next day.
The Mid Eastern league continues on the next three Saturdays with Dundalk and Blarney the venues for races on March 9th. The Jim McQuaid memorial is at Ballymun on March 16th, with other promotions that day at Newry and Kanturk. There will also be the usual St Patrick's Day events on the Ashbourne Road to Drogheda and back, Carrick on Suir and Downpatrick.
The three day Easter races are on again at Blarney and Gorey, with the Tour of the North over five days. The Tour of Ulster stays in its new slot - May 3rd, 4th and 5th. The Des Hanlon memorial at Carlow on April 6th is the first event to count in the classic league.
The National Road Race Championship is down for decision at Carrick on Suir on Sunday, June 29th - the same day as other nations have their title events. The last time it was held over a Carrick on Suir circuit was in 1984 when Paul Kimmage won from Eddie Madden and Tony Murphy.
. Sean Kelly has been engaged to conduct a Northern Region coaching course at Limavady next weekend, February 22nd and 23rd.
