Cycling: Giant Asia duo Paul Griffin and David McCann reached the top step of the podium this week in the Tour of Indonesia, winning stages in the 2.2-ranked race.
Griffin beat 18 other breakaway companions to take the opening leg on Monday, seizing the first leader's jersey in the event. Compatriot McCann then triumphed 24 hours later when he jumped away with Ryan Ariehan (Dodol Picnic) from a small breakaway group three kilometres from the end of the stage to Purwokerto. He then put a gap on the Indonesian inside the final kilometre and finished 10 seconds clear.
Griffin placed third on the stage, defending his place at the top of the general classification.
The Giant Asia team then continued their winning streak the following day when Hossein Askari won the leg to Jogjakarta, taking over at the top of the overall standings. Griffin dropped one place to second overall, 43 seconds behind.
The race runs until September 21st, after which McCann will travel straight to Madrid to compete in the world road race championships on Sunday week. He was one of nine riders named this week in the Grant Thornton Team Ireland squad for the worlds, joining former world junior champion Mark Scanlon and Irish road race champion David O'Loughlin in the elite event. The latter will also go in the elite time trial.
Of the others, Philip Deignan will hope to build on his fine debut professional season and the fifth place he achieved in the European championships in Austria earlier this summer when he leads the charge in the under-23 road race. He will be supported by Páidí O'Brien, Andrew McQuaid, Micheál Concannon and Ryan Connor.
Siobhán Dervan's good season in Belgium sees her represent Ireland in the Elite women's road race. She met CI's criteria for selection earlier this month when she finished seventh in the Wielsbeke Grand Prix.
Saturday: All-Ireland Hillclimb, Grianan of Aileach, Buncrana, from noon.
Sunday: Irish MTB Marathon Championships, Community Centre, Carlingford, 11am; Joe Loughman Randonee, in aid of Bray Cancer group. Sign on at Presentation College, Bray, from 8.30am.
