No time for celebration. As the news of his professional signing by the Linda McCartney team begins to sink in, Mark Scanlon is planning a busy end of season in order to regain race fitness. Having crashed and broken his elbow at the start of July, the 19-year-old is playing catch-up to get in good condition for the under-23 world championship in France on October 13th.

"I don't know what sort of a ride I can do," says the 1998 winner of the junior world title, "but I do know that I need a good programme of long races to get back into shape."

Scanlon will compete in the Tour of Hokkaido from September 15th-20th with the Irish team, before a likely guest slot with the McCartney squad in the three-day Circuit Franco Belge, beginning on September 29th. He will make his debut proper early next year. Scanlon's move will act as impetus for 22-year-old David O'Loughlin, who is hoping for a strong end-of-season campaign to secure a contract. O'Loughlin will attempt to replicate his impressive Ras Connachta display in Sunday's under-23 championship, although Scanlon will be highly motivated to take his first senior national title.

Good news also this week for the off-road contingent, with Tarja Owen's late call-up to the Olympic side meaning two mountain-bike riders will now travel to Sydney. The unexpected offer led to her rushing back to Ireland from her base in England yesterday, in order to fill out accreditation forms before today's cut-off date. The 23-year-old now faces the task of reaching peak condition before her September 23rd Olympic debut.

Following the e.g.m debacle, where some of the 14 clubs listed as calling for a meeting did not apparently do so, the Irish Cycling Federation board will meet tomorrow to discuss this and other matters.

While the e.g.m. will not now go ahead, the matter has been resolved through the intervention of Pat Hickey which has resulted in an extra official being allowed to travel to Syndey. Peter Purfield and John Keegan will both assist the Irish quintet at the Games.

Unfortunately the legacy of the disagreement is that the 25-mile time-trial championship remains postponed to a later date.