Back to the grindstone. Following the customary lull in international competition during the Tour de France, the coming weeks see a flurry of activity for Irish cyclists. Professional Ciaran Power begins the build-up for the Olympics with a return to racing in Italy next Tuesday and Wednesday, lines out in the Tour of Denmark from August 1st to 5th and then disputes the World Cup HEW Cycle-classics race in Hamburg one day later.

Aidan Duff, Michael McNena, Paul Healion, David O'Loughlin, David McQuaid and Keith Gallagher are all currently competing in the 2.5 ranked Tour of Mazovia in Poland, which continues until Sunday, after which Healion, O'Loughlin, McQuaid and Gallagher line out in the European under-23 Championships from August 3rd to 5th. Also representing Ireland will be a lone female cyclist, Lorraine Manning, who regards the event as one of her main targets for the season.

Although undecided about her participation in the forthcoming junior tour, Manning is expected to figure prominently in the National Road Race championships on August 27th, as is Olympic-bound Deirdre Murphy who flies in from America for the race.

Another destined for Sydney, David McCann, lines out with a five-man Irish team this Sunday in the Tour of the Cotswalds. McCann, Tommy Evans, Paddy Moriarty, Eugene Moriarty and Brian Kenneally will look to repeat the strong Irish showing in June's Manx International, where the green jersies proved the strongest in the race.

Domestically, things are equally busy with a host of foreign riders due to take part in stage races here in early August. Junior Tour organiser Alice Sheratt has confirmed an impressive field for the six-day event.

Five national teams - France, Holland, Wales, England and Scotland - plus seven regional teams travel in for the August 8th start, which is expected to be contested by upwards of 80 riders. The home challenge is led by a strong Stena Ireland team of Michael Dennehy, Tim Cassidy, Philip Duignan and national junior champion Colin Armstrong.