LAST WEEK Pat McQuaid revealed details of the Irish start to next year's Tour de France and in his role at the opposite end of the cycling scale - as director of the Junior Tour of Ireland he announced in Dublin last evening the route for the eight-day race that takes place from August 3rd to 10th.

Sponsored again by the Irish League of Credit Unions, it will start at Gorey, with the finish in Drogheda after a total of 423 miles.

Stage one on Sunday, August 3rd is from Gorey over a roundabout 55 miles, taking in the Mount Leinster climb, to, Enniscorthy - which is also a Tour de France stage start next year. The following day there is 59 miles to Waterford, including a" finishing circuit of 15 miles through Tramore.

Stage three goes from Carrick-on-Suir to Kilkenny (50 miles), with a five-mile time trial there on the Wednesday morning followed by a 48-mile stage to Thurles.

Stage five, at 75 miles and from Thurles to Ballinasloe, is the longest. The riders have to tackle the Slieve Bloom mountains during that stage, but there is a relatively easy 46 miles to Mullingar the next day.

On the second-last day they will negotiate the 45 miles to Navan, finishing there with three laps of a five-mile circuit. There is a transfer on the last day to Drogheda for the final 50-miles criterium.

Last year's winner Barry Twohig is eligible again, but McQuaid said the opposition will be very formidable as he has had, confirmation of teams from the US, Belgium, Spain and Holland with France also likely to be represented.

There may also be a team from the British federation. Several regional British selections will definitely be in the line-up.

McQuaid leaves for another assignment this morning. He is race director of the Tour of the Philippines which starts next Wednesday and goes on to May 4th. Accompanying him to Manilla will be Jack Watson, who is chief commissaire, Jason Callaly, organiser of the stage ends, and Seamus Shortall, who is responsible for the computerised results service