CYCLING: Mark Scanlon yesterday landed the biggest professional contract since the era of Kelly and Roche when he signed up to race for the next two years with the first division AG2r team.

The 1998 junior world champion secured the contract after a highly impressive pro trial which saw the rider, still just 21 years of age, record a string of high placings in top class pro-races.

Riding his trial since the start of September, Scanlon's results included third places in both the Grand Prix Isbergues and stage three of last weekend's Paris-Correze stage race in France, consequently attracting offers from a number of top teams.

The Sligoman finally opted to sign for AG2r yesterday and will attend a training camp with them in December, before starting to race as a full professional in their colours early next year.

"I am delighted to get a contract as that has been my main aim for the past three years," he said. "My trial went very well - I did better than I expected in that I got two top-three places, and those kind of results meant that AG2r were guaranteed to take me on. I had got offers from other teams but in the end decided to go with them."

This week Scanlon will line out in the world championships in Zolder, Belgium, as one of the pre-race favourites for both the under 23 time trial tomorrow and Friday's under 23 road race.

Meanwhile, Dutch rider Esther van der Helm yesterday won the TQ Paper Women's International two-day event for the second year running.

Van der Helm then consolidated her win with a narrow victory in Saturday afternoon's two kilometre time trial, and yesterday placed second on the third and final stage. She finished six seconds clear overall of German rider Stephanie Gronow, with Louise Moriarty of the Irish team a good third .