The start of the European season may be several weeks away but three of Ireland's regular internationals are already preparing for elite competition abroad.
New Irish professional Mark Scanlon has flown out to Australia in advance of next week's Tour Down Under event, a 2.3-ranked contest which will mark his debut proper with the AG2r squad.
Spanning six days, the race starts in Adelaide next Tuesday and features riders of the calibre of Tour de France green jersey Robbie McEwen, yellow-jersey holder Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano, Tour of Italy leader Cadel Evans and AG2r's Jaan Kirsipuu, who has won several Tour de France stages in the past.
This Sunday Eugene Moriarty will take on many of the Tour favourites when he lines out in the BMC Software Australian Open Road Championships in Ballarat.
The Listowel rider showed he is in promising condition by taking second in the points competition of the amateur wing of the Geelong Bay Classic last weekend.
Meanwhile, marital plans may have prompted Tommy Evans's decision to scale back on his international racing career, but the Northern rider has been invited to guest with the Team Telecom Malaysia squad in the forthcoming Tour of Langkawi.
Evans impressed in the Gamuda Eagle Tour of Malaysia last August, winning a stage and finishing third in the points ranking, and has been asked to line out with the defending champions in the 2.2-ranked Langkawi event which starts on January 31st.
Following many successful years running a training camp in Majorca, 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche has started a similar venture in the south of France. Details are available from www.rochemarina.com or by calling 00 33 493200854.
Finally, two Cycling Ireland/ Cycling Ulster joint projects will take place over the next two weeks. This weekend a free level one day coaching course will be held in Craigavon; more information on this can be obtained from Frank Campbell at 048-90228465. A pre-season training camp will take place between January 31st and February 2nd at Carlingford. Barry Monaghan has further details at 048-38318614.
