Eighteen stages down, three to go, and Ciaran Power looks set to realise his ambitions in this year's Tour of Italy. Before the start the first-year professional had stated that his goals were to finish his first three-week tour and also to get a high stage placing along the way. With just two Alpine stages to go before the final stage in Milan, Power has already achieved an excellent fifth place on stage three and sixth on Tuesday's leg to Meda. And while he suffered on yesterday's arduous mountain stage, the 24-year-old made it to the finish within the time limit and will persevere to become what will be only the seventh Irishman to finish a major Tour.

The experience will do much for the Linda McCartney rider, boosting confidence, building strength, and doing much to ensure he will be selected to contest the Olympic road race in three months' time. Two places are up for grabs for Sydney and speculation is rife about who will be selected. Power, fellow professional Morgan Fox, former junior world champion Mark Scanlon and 1996 Olympian David McCann are four of the most oft-mentioned names within cycling circles, but the decision rests solely with national team director Richie Beatty, who will name a five-man Olympic squad after the national championships. One Irish cyclist has already been named as a Sydney entrant. Robin Seymour, the National Champion in both mountainbike and cyclo-cross, earned a berth for Ireland last year when he got into the top 50 riders in the world. Seymour has built up gradually towards his Olympic debut, but next weekend tackles his other main aim for the season - the MTB World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain.

Irish team for MTB world championships (in Sierra Nevada, Spain) June 4th-11th: Cross country: Senior elite men: Robin Seymour, Richard McCauley, Philip McNamara; Senior elite women: Tarja Owens, Beth McCluskey; under-23 men: Matthew Slattery; junior men: Glen Kinning. Downhill and dual competition: senior elite men: Paul Gilsenan, Glyn O'Brien, David O'Hara, John Lawlor, Andrew Young; junior men: Colin Ross