CYCLING:FORMER RACE victor David McCann will lead the Ireland team challenge in next month's FBD Insurance Rás, vying to add to his haul of six stage wins and to repeat his 2004 overall success.

The Belfast rider currently holds fifth place overall in the Jelajah Malaysia stage race, which runs until Sunday.

McCann will be joined at the head of the Ireland team by Martyn Irvine, who has also shown impressive form this season. He has taken six wins in Ireland, including the Tour of the North. Together they should provide a strong challenge.

They will be backed by Paul Healion, Stephen Barrett and Seán Downey. Healion is the national time-trial champion and has competed alongside McCann and Irvine as part of Ireland’s track team pursuit squad. They were seventh and fifth in World Cup competitions this year. Downey won the time-trial stage in the Tour of Ulster, while Barrett finished second on the final stage of the Rás Mumhan earlier this month.