CYCLING:With the FBD Insurance Rás beginning in Naas this Sunday, the national squad for the eight-day, world-ranked event has been announced.

The Irish road-race champion David McCann will lead the Subway Eat Fresh Irish Team, which will be backed by the food company. He has been showing good form this year while racing in the US with the Colavita Sutter Home pro team.

Paul Griffin has also been riding well in international competition and the Giant Asia rider has shown strong form of late. While he would undoubtedly prefer a hillier FBD Insurance Rás, he should be prominent.

The team is completed by Dermot Nally, Martyn Irvine and the former world junior champion Mark Scanlon. Irvine is one of Ireland's most promising young riders. Nally and Scanlon have won stages in the race.

Scanlon's presence in the team will generate interest. He won the junior world championship nine years ago and rode the Tour de France in 2004, but has been seemed to lack motivation these past couple of seasons. He was due to race this year with the Toyota United Pro team but has not done so, returning to Ireland earlier in the season. It is hoped taking part in the Rás will help him gain fitness with a view to becoming part of Cycling Ireland's new track programme.

Subway Eat Fresh Ireland manager Cian Lynch is expecting a strong showing.

"This team has great strength in depth," he said. "McCann has a great record in this race, claiming the overall in 2004, while Griffin, Nally and Scanlon have all scored stage wins in the Rás. The sole espoir on the team, Martyn Irvine, has impressed with his rides on the under-23 Espoirs National Team at Picardie and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, culminating with a win on the first stage of the Tour of Ulster."