THE European Under 23 cycling championship on the Isle of Man next Tuesday week and the Manx International two days later will be the final trials before national team director, Alasdair MacLennan, selects the lone Irish rider to go to the Olympic road race in Atlanta on July 31st.
MacLennan has named a full team of six for the European title event, which will be over 10 laps of a circuit of 10 miles outside. Douglas, and will be contested by members of some of the leading Continental professional squads.
National champion Michcal Fitzgerald heads the Irish selection, with him will be Aidan Duff, Mark Hutton, Ciaran Power, Michael O'Reilly and Shane Baker.
In the Manx International over three laps of the 373/4 mites TT course MacLennan has chosen a squad of nine. They will ride as individuals for their clubs, so they will not have any Ireland team responsibilities.
Fitzgerald, Hutton and Duff get another chance to clinch the Atlanta place. Lining up with them will be Peter Daly, Tommy Evans, David McCann, Leslie McKay, Finn O'Sullivan and Richie McCauley.
American based Declan Lonergan, who has qualified for the Olympic points race on the track, was also entered for the Isle of Man Thursday event, but he has a race in Canada on the same day with his Australian Giant team.
MacLennan will be announcing the man for the Olympic road race on June 24th, he cannot wait for the Irish Championship at Portglenone on July 7th as the team leaves for Atlanta the next day.
Philip Collins has also qualified for the Olympic 4,000 metres track pursuit, while Martin Earley and Alastair Martin take part in the mountain bike race. Earley had a win last Sunday in the British Midland series at Stourport, Worcester.
MacLennan also named Geraldine Gill and Tarja Owens for the European Women's Championship. It will be over four laps of the 10 mile Isle of Man course starting at 9.15am with the mens' event due to get under way at 11:45.
Power, O'Reilly and Baker will also contest the Viking Trophy race on the Thursday and junior squad manager Tony Allen takes a team of four to contest four events. Ross Blayney, Paul O'Callaghan, David O'Loughlin land Barry Twohig go in the Willaston Handicap on Monday week. Over the following days they will take in the Douglas Kermesse, the Clague Handicap and the Mannin Veg.
FBD Milk Rags hero Evans wears the leader's jersey in the classic league series competition in his home town tomorrow for the fourth event to count the West Down Grand Prix at Banbridge. Second place to McCann in the Elliott race at Bray put Evans on 27 points to 23 for David Peelo, with Paul Griffin next on 21.
The 10 mile time trial listed for Kilpedder tomorrow has been postponed to the following Saturday, but the 10 mile time trial championship is down for decision at Clonmel on Sunday.
Collins, who was eighth in the British 25 TT championship with 52:18, will not be defending his title as he is continuing his Atlanta preparation with training on the track at Manchester.
It has been decided that Collins will not go to the World Cup track meeting in Germany next weekend, either, but will concentrate on his Olympic build up.
The Garda Club's promotion in the Phoenix Park tomorrow morning is over the 1.7 mile triangular Ordnance Survey circuit. Most of those in action at Banbridge tomorrow will take in the Tour of the Mournes at Newry on Sunday. Also listed is Ras Luimni at Cahirdavin and the Kevin McInerney memorial at Dunlavin first category men are excluded there but a programme of under age racing gets under way at 11.00 o'clock.
