Following a string of four impressive victories in the last five weeks, David O'Loughlin heads the Irish challenge in the European Under-23 road race championship at Lisbon on Sunday.
Accompanying O'Loughlin will be Dermot Nally, Derek Finnegan, Paul Healion and David McQuaid. Ross Blayney will fill the vacancy created by the withdrawal of Mark Scanlon.
Meanwhile, Philip Cassidy attempts to regain the 25-mile time trial title tomorrow in the championship on the roads of Batterstown, Co Meath.
On Sunday, attention switches to Lurgan for the Tour of Armagh, the third of four events in the Classic League. Mark Scanlon is expected to take part. Before coming home last Saturday, the Sligo man contested a 90-mile race in Holland and his strained right knee survived the test. If all goes well on Sunday, Scanlon will then compete in the Under-23 championship at Riverstick, Cork, on Sunday week.
While the 25-miles TT title contest is on tomorrow, the underage championships, from Under-11 to Under-16, will be staged nearby at Clonee and at Dunboyne on Sunday.
Chosen by Barry Monaghan, the Irish team for the Junior Tour next week consists of Denis Lynch and Willie Curtin (Kanturk), Brian Ahern (Orwell) and Jonathon Kelly (Thermo King). Junior champion Michael Dennehy and Lynch's twin brother, Daniel, ride with Kanturk.
