THIS time next week the national team director, Alasdair MacLennan, should know who the Irish representative will be in the Olympic road race at Atlanta on Wednesday, July 31st. He is due to announce who will fill the vacancy on Monday week.
The Isle of Man provides the final battle ground for selection next week. On Tuesday, the European under 23 road race championship will be decided over 10 laps of a 10 mile circuit, with an Ireland team of six involved. Then, on Thursday, the Manx International over three laps of the 37 3/4 mile TT course provides the last chance.
MacLennan selected national champion Micheal Fitzgerald, Aidan Duff, Mark Hutton, Ciaran Power, Michael O'Reilly and Shane Baker for the European title event, but they face tough opposition as the organiser, Mike O'Hare, said 29 countries entered teams.
When the event was held for the first time last year, in the Czech Republic, the Italians dominated and, like many other nations, they will have men who are members of the top professional trade teams.
O'Hare expects to have 190 starters, with close on 100 in the women's race which is over four laps. Geraldine Gill and Tarja Owens represent Ireland there.
Fitzgerald, who was ill during the early stages of the FBD Milk Ras, survived and took the final stage in Swords. He won a race last Sunday, the Grand Prix de Delle over 115 kilometres outside Paris, for which the prize was a holiday for two in Greece.
Duff went close to winning a three day event near where he is based in the Vendee region in France last weekend; he finished second to a team mate so is also obviously in good form.
MacLennan, who will be at Wembley tomorrow for Scotland's clash against England, said: "We are putting a major emphasis on this under 23 category and I am quietly optimistic that we can achieve a top 10 placing in the championship." Fitzgerald, Duff and Hutton go again in Thursday's race, along with Tommy Evans, David McCann, Peter Daly, Finn O'Sullivan, Leslie McKay and Richie McCauley.
Paul Giles, winner of two stages in the Ras, is upset that he was not included in MacLennan's squad, but the manager said he had to submit the entries by May 5th and Giles did not warrant selection then.
MacLennan added that, as they are all riding as individuals for their clubs on Thursday, Giles could have entered himself.
Most of those taking part on Tuesday will not be staying on for Thursday, but all the top British professionals will be involved then as their championship is on the following Sunday. Martin Earley will also be taking part. Even if Earley finishes ahead of all the other Irishmen, he will not be chosen for the Olympic road race as his mountain bike event is on the day before in Atlanta.
McCann and Evans have been most prominent in the recent home events, while Daly also enhanced his chance in the Ras. But MacLennan said the Olympic selection will be on performances in international competition and Thursday provides them with their final opportunity. Power, O'Reilly and Baker contest the 75 1/2 mile Viking Trophy race next Thursday. Juniors Ross Blayney, Paul O'Callaghan, David O'Loughlin and Barry Twohig go in the Mannin Veg over one lap of the TT course.
That junior quartet contest three other races on the Isle of Man programme and they will also be riding as a team in the Dublin Wheelers five day race which starts at Howth on Monday week.
As the team for Tuesday's European championship leave on Sunday, they will not be at Navan. But McCann, Evans and McCauley are due to contest the Meath Grand Prix with McCann hot favourite to follow up on his wins last weekend at Banbridge and Newry.
The McKinley three day race is on over the weekend at Newry, with first category men excluded.
. For the non racing enthusiasts, the Wicklow 200 kilometres touring classic is on Sunday. It starts and finishes at the Marist Fathers sports ground, Bird Avenue, Milltown, where signing on is from 7.0am to 8.0am.
