The line-up of the Irish squad for the Olympic Games was finalised yesterday when 27-year-old David McCann was named as the fourth cyclist to compete in Sydney in September. McCann joins professional Ciaran Power in the line-up for elite men's road race, with the squad completed by cross-country mountain bike rider Robin Seymour and American-based Deirdre Murphy, who will contest the women's road event.
The announcement marks the end of seven months of speculation as to who will get the nod from national team director Richie Beatty, and means that McCann will compete in his second Olympics Games. Four-years ago the Belfast rider finished 72nd in Atlanta, crossing the line just two minutes and 53 seconds behind race winner Pascal Richard of Switzerland, but a knee injury frustrated his attempts to build on that early promise. After surgery last year McCann returned to prominence this season, registering high placings in the Tour of Egypt and the Archer Grand Prix, winning the Trofeu Guillamet and also taking a stage plus the mountains and points classifications in the FBD Milk Ras.
With the other favoured contender Morgan Fox sidelined in recent weeks with a viral infection, McCann consolidated his position with a third-place finish in the Isle of Man Mountain time-trial, second in the Manx International and an impressive victory in the national championships in Blackpool, Cork, nearly two weeks ago.
The announcement will come as a disappointment for the other cyclists in contention for the Olympic slot, especially Fox and Listowel rider Eugene Moriarty. Moriarty finished fifth in the world B championships in Uruguay last November, and along with Ciaran Power, who was third, qualified Ireland for two places in the Sydney road race. However, despite a good start to the year, Moriarty's results have been overshadowed by those of McCann, and so with just over two months remaining, the Belfast rider has got the nod from Beatty. He returned to France yesterday and will compete with both his VC Perpignan outfit and the Irish team in the run-up to the Games, with the Tour of the Cotswolds (July 30th) and the Tour of Guadeloupe his next assignment for the national squad.
Moriarty, Brian Kenneally and Tommy Evans will head the line-up for this Sunday's inaugural National Criterium championships in Midleton. The hour long high-speed race takes place on a half-mile circuit in the town, with the flag dropping at a new time of 2 p.m. for senior riders.
Fixtures - Saturday: Mooney Cup, Collooney, Co Sligo, 3.0. Sunday: All Ireland Criterium Championship, Midleton, Cork, 2.0; Markievicz Cup, Collooney, 1.30; IVCA Founders 50 CP, Milltown, Kildare, 10.0.
