CYCLING: Ireland's top professional, Mark Scanlon, will line out tomorrow in the prestigious Milan-San Remo classic in Italy.
As the opening round of cycling's World Cup, the race will attract a top level field, with riders such as defending champion Paolo Bettini, 2002 champion Mario Cipollini, Alessandro Pettachi and Frank Vandenbroucke among those tipped as victors.
Scanlon (23), said yesterday his goal was simple. "To go as hard as I can for as long as I can. The race is really decided once you hit the hills inside the last 40 kilometres. That is when everything really starts happening. My team (Ag2r) doesn't have a designated leader for the race, it will be down to whoever is still there at the end."
Scanlon has had a complicated time of it so far this season, with a broken rib and then a bout of bronchitis hampering his racing. He was on antibiotics going into Paris-Nice but finished the course last Wednesday; since then, he feels much better.
"I came out of Paris Nice in good shape. I've done a good week of training since, with a seven-hour spin yesterday, so I will hopefully do okay in Milan San Remo."
Another top name Scanlon will be lining out alongside in Milan is Lance Armstrong, the quintuple Tour de France winner riding the classic as part of his build-up towards what would be a historic sixth title.
Armstrong made headlines recently when he criticised WADA chief Dick Pound for sweeping statements about the level of doping in cycling. Insisting that he and many of his fellow professionals are clean, the Tour champion said that the head of WADA should be more objective.
"I ask you to focus your efforts on the fight against doping rather than spending your time accusing innocent athletes without any evidence other than your own speculation," Armstrong wrote in an open letter to Pound.
Saturday: Christy McManus Memorial, Roundwood, 11.0. Tour of Ards, Newtownards, noon. Sunday: Phoenix GP, Nutts Corner, 1.0. Des Hanlon Memorial Classic League, Carlow, 11.30. Search for the Holy Trail MTB event, Limerick, noon.
