CYCLING:IRISH DUO Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervevlo) and Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) both finished in the main bunch on yesterday's 18th stage of the Tour of Spain, with the latter riding aggressively but slipping back one place in the overall standings.
A large breakaway group went clear early on and some of those present stayed clear to fight it out for the stage win. Italian rider Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre ISD) grabbed the victory when he outsprinted Kristof Vandewalle (Quickstep Cycling Team) into the finish in Noja, the duo having jumped away from the larger group in the final kilometres.
Roche broke clear of the main bunch in a bid to improve on his 17th overall but was reeled in several kilometres later.
The time gained by the break saw Robert Kiserlovski (Astana) edge past him, dropping Roche to 18th overall. Martin remains 14th overall, while race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox TMC) preserved his 13 second lead over Chris Froome (Sky Procycling).
In other news, World Cup paracycling champion Mark Rohan and fellow Irishman Colin Lynch both took superb wins in the world paracycling TT championships in Roskilda, Denmark, yesterday. Rohan won the H1 time trial when he beat Koby Lion (Israel), while Lynch triumphed in the C3 event.
Some of Ireland’s other riders are themselves preparing for their own worlds. The UCI event takes place later this month and both Dan Martin and Nicolas Roche have been confirmed as part of the shortlist for the road race. National champion Matt Brammeier (HTC Highroad) and David McCann (Giant Asia) are also in the running for one of three available places, with both of these certain to compete in the time trial.
Cycling Ireland have decided not to send any women, saying none are of a sufficiently high standard, but will send male riders to the under 23 and junior events. Sam Bennett, Philip Lavery and Felix English will ride in the first of those categories, and have each shown solid form this year.
The junior team comprises 2010 national champion Jack Wilson and Ryan Mullen, with the latter also doing the time trial.
Meanwhile, Irish duo Mark Cassidy and Ronan McLaughin are part of the An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Sean Kelly team selection for the Tour of Britain, which begins in Peebles on Sunday and runs for eight days.
FIXTURES – Saturday: Veteran and Junior time trial championships, starts 9am, Castlebar; Race around Ireland, starts Navan, 5pm; Veterans omnium championships, Sundrive Road. Sunday: Ulster 25 mile TT championships, starts 9 am at Woodgreen; Red Bull Foxhunt, starts Ballinastoe Woods at 3pm.
