OLYMPIC qualifier Decian Lonergan has agreed to go as a member of the Irish team to the Tour of Malaysia stage race from February 29th to March 10th, but Philip Collins has declined the invitation.
At the World Championships in Colombia last August Collins qualified for the 4,000 metres pursuit event on the track at the Atlanta Games while Lonergan got through to the points race. Although American based Lonergan is pleased at the opportunity of 11 days road racing in warm weather in Malaysia, Collins feels the assignment would be detrimental to his specialised preparation for the Olympics.
Lonergan took out a professional licence in America soon after his win in the FBD Milk Ras in 1994 but the main sponsors of the team he was with there have - withdrawn support and his efforts to get a place with another squad have been unsuccessful. He expects the competition in Malaysia to be very beneficial before the season gets under way on the American circuit.
Collins is on extended leave from his employment to prepare for the Olympics and he has been availing of the training facilities on the track in Manchester. He intends taking part in some of the early season domestic road events but is not keen to risk the unknown in Malaysia.
National team director Alasdair MacLennan had some difficulty in getting a team of six for the Malaysian tour and the selection was only finalised yesterday. Going with Lonergan will be Richie McCauley, Tommy Evans, David Peelo, Barry Monaghan and Mel Sutcliffe.
MacLennan, who goes with the team as manager, said he avoided naming any of the under 23 squad as they have World and European championships coming up. He regarded experience more important for the trip to what is a new event on the international calendar. Micheal Fitzgerald, Eamon Byrne and Aidan Duff are joining new clubs in France and were also not considered for selection by MacLennan.
Dermot Dignam, organiser of the FBD Milk Ras from May 18th to 26th, expects to have an international line up of 150 with at least four visiting countries represented.
The route of 828 miles in nine stages is notable for the absence of a time trial but it should provide plenty of hard and fast racing. There is a total of 19 king of the mountain checkpoints, 11 of them during three days in Donegal.
The ascent of Mamore Gap comes towards the end of stage six of 89 miles from Letterkenny to Buncrana, taking in Malin Head. Glengesh Pass is included on the 101 mile stage the next day to Donegal.
Stage one on Saturday, May 18th is 73 miles from Dublin to Kilkenny with sprints for bonus seconds at Athy, Newtown Hill and Castlecomer, with 103 miles the next day to Millstreet. Then after 94 miles to Nenagh and another 103 miles on to Castlebar there is the only transfer, to Tubbercurry on the Wednesday morning, for the start of 94 miles to Letterkenny.
After the tough stages to Buncrana and Donegal there is 103 miles to Newry on the second last day and the final 76 miles finishes on a circuit in Swords.
