Cycling: Although over five months remain before the start of the 2006 FBD Insurance Rás, the race organisers have begun to release details of next year's tour. A team time trial will take place on Friday, May 26th, the race against the clock making history as the first such team effort to affect the overall classification of the race.
The 24-kilometre contest, starting and finishing in An Cheathru Rua (Carraroe), Galway, will act as the first of two stages on day six of the 2.2 world-ranked event.
"We feel it will make for a great stage," said organiser Dermot Dignam. "The team time trial has been one of the most spectacular clashes in recent Tours de France.
"The prospect of seeing top riders from world cycling compete against the very best Irish riders in such a dramatic test should guarantee a good turnout of spectators, as well as some very exciting racing."
In addition to taking inspiration from the Tour, the organisers will employ similar rules to those used in recent team time trials in the French race.
Under the system, the differences between teams will be capped to ensure no squad loses an insurmountable amount of time. The rules state the second-placed squad will be subject to a fixed gap of 20 seconds, regardless of their actual deficit. Thereafter, each subsequent team will concede a further five seconds.
However, organisers are taking unusual measures to ensure those on county teams do not lose their chance of winning the Rás. Under the system, the quickest of the county teams will also be awarded the same time as the day's fastest squad. The second of these will again be 20 seconds back, while each subsequent county team will be separated by five-second blocks.
"The idea behind the ruling is to ensure that strong riders on relatively weaker teams are not unduly penalised by the team time trial," Dignam explained.
"It means that if a race favourite happens to ride as part of a county team, he has the same chance as those on the international or professional squads."
The time trial will be followed by an 83-km stage later that day.
Although trials have featured in the Rás before, this will be the first time they will directly affect the general classification.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Tomorrow: Ulster cyclo-cross league race, Island Centre, Lisburn. Youth race at 12.0, main event at 1pm. Women's training spin, meeting at Papal Cross, Phoenix Park at 9.45. Riders of all levels welcome. (Includes coaching session).
Sunday: Connacht cyclo cross/MTB League, Moorehall. Sign on at 11.30. Bray Wheelers' Gentleman's Grand Prix, Dargle Road, Bray. Novelty 10-mile TT, starts 11am.
