CYCLING:DESPITE HAVING finished sixth in the individual pursuit at last month's world track championships in Manchester, Pezula Racing rider David O'Loughlin must wait until June 20th to learn if he will be taking part in the event in Beijing.
The 29-year-old ended the season ninth in the world rankings for the discipline, and just missed out on the qualification places recently confirmed by the UCI. He was seventh, eighth and fourth in World Cup races during the 2007/2008 season, but missed the Sydney round of the series.
At the time of the world championships he had hoped his performances would be enough to qualify him through what is currently a confusing, over-elaborate system. He has now been confirmed as first reserve, and will head to the Olympics if any of the qualified countries do not enter their full contingent of riders.
This is possible as some countries earned slots via the team pursuit; those riders may not necessarily do the individual event as well.
The Mayo rider won last Sunday's Shay Elliott Memorial in fine style and is due to ride the East Midlands International Classic this weekend in England.
Irish riders have been performing well overseas. Nicolas Roche finished ahead of many established names when he placed 60th in Wednesday's Flèche Wallonne Classic in Belgium.
The 24-year-old reached the finish at the top of the Mur de Huy three minutes and 10 seconds behind the winner Kim Kirchen (Team High Road). In Italy, Philip Deignan was lying 26th overall after two stages of the 2.1-ranked Giro del Trentino, having finished 46th in Tuesday's opening time trial and then 38th in the big sprint which decided stage two.
The first round of this year's Boot Inn league for women will begin next Wednesday, starting with a coached race. This will see a number of experienced coaches giving advice during the event, helping newcomers to the sport to learn tactics and build confidence.
The race starts at 7pm from the Boot Inn, near Dublin Airport. A group of women will meet at the GPO at 5.45pm and ride out to the start. Cycling Ireland will hold a physiological testing session for mountainbike riders at the Craigavon Watersports Centre tomorrow.
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday: Monie Nolan Memorial, Balscadden. First races at 3pm; John Deere Four Masters Classic, Kilmacrennan, Letterkenny. Starts noon; Physiological testing session for mountainbike riders, starts 10am at the Craigavon Watersports Centre.
Sunday: Stamullen GP, starts Gormanstown College at 12.30. Main race counts as round 1 of new Wheel Worx Super League; Tommy Sheehan Memorial, Carrick on Suir. First races at noon; West Coast Wheelers race, starts 1pm from Maam Community Centre; Irish downhill NPS round 2, Carrick Mountain, Glenealy. Starts noon.
