CYCLING:FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S rest day at the Vuelta a Espana, Irish riders Philip Deignan and Daniel Martin will this morning head back into the high mountains on the 11th stage of the race.
The 174 kilometre leg from Almeria to Alto de Velefique is one of the hardest days in this year’s Tour of Spain, and includes three first-category climbs. It concludes with the 1,840 metre-high climb to the summit and is certain to shatter the peloton.
Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) continues to lead overall by seven seconds, with Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto) his closest rival. Cervélo Test Team rider Deignan is 22nd, six minutes and 12 seconds back, while Daniel Martin (Garmin-Slipstream) is 39th. The latter has been riding for his team-mate Tom Danielson, who is fourth overall.
“Tomorrow’s stage is going to be tough but I will hang in there and ride hard for as long as I can,” said Deignan yesterday. “There is going to be a lot of suffering on the three climbs and I’ll just have to see how well I can stick with the front group”.
In other news, it may be coming towards the end of the season but it’s one of the most important times for women’s cycling in Ireland. An Ireland squad is in action in the 2.2-ranked Tour de la Ardeche in France, with Siobhán Dervan best of the Irish after three stages in 53rd overall. She was 19 minutes and four seconds behind Kristin Armstrong (Cervélo Test Team).
Meanwhile, the Sneem Hotel Ras na mBan begins today with a 60 kilometre road race from Sneem to Kenmare and back, taking in Moll’s Gap. Tomorrow sees two legs; a five kilometre time trial and an 80 kilometre road race heading out to Tahilla and Killarney before returning to Sneem. Sunday’s concluder will be a 90 kilometre stage.
As was the case in other years, there will be a good field with riders travelling from several European countries. Last year’s winner Louise Moriarty, Heather Boyle, Adrienne McCarthy and Kate Rudd will represent the Ireland team.
Finally, two other events of note are taking place over the next few days. The CISM World Military Championships begin today with a Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel time trial, using the same course immortalised over two decades ago by Sean Kelly in the Nissan Classic, and continues with a 150 kilometre road race on Sunday.
On Tuesday the gruelling Race Around Ireland will begin in Navan. The time trial is a staggering 1,350 kilometres and will take the competitors over some of the toughest roads in Ireland. Riders survive on little sleep in order to complete the race in the quickest possible time.
