This weekend the promising young downhiller Jamie Popham attempts to become the first non-British rider to win a NPS series in the UK. Popham has ridden strongly in the races all season, winning two, and has a 12-point lead in the junior standings going into the final round at Gryn Moelfre, Powys, in Wales.
Ben Reid won the most recent round and is in second place overall, making it a one-two for Irish riders at the top.
Both Popham and Reid have impressed greatly this season in junior (under-18) competition and are excellent prospects for the future. In August Popham was fifth in the European championships, while earlier this month Reid was 11th in the world championships, despite a crash.
The country's cross-country riders will also be chasing world ranking points this weekend at an E2 event being held near Roundwood. The Outsider Magazine Pog 3.5 Challenge in Ballinastoe Wood is expected to draw a strong field, including riders from the UK. Promoted by Team Worc, the event will use a slightly modified variation of the Pog Challenge 3.0 route which was used earlier this year, a testing 25-kilometre loop on the forested trails of the area.
Meanwhile in road racing,former record holder Tommy Evans is set to reclaim his place at the top again after a storming ride on Tuesday in the Jim Traynor Memorial 10-mile time trial.
Averaging over 30 m.p.h. for the distance, he recorded a time of 19 minutes and 23 seconds. This was 15 seconds better than the record set two years ago by fellow Northern rider David McCann and, once ratified, will see him back in the record books.
Elsewhere, Irish riders finished strongly in the World Masters Track Championships at Manchester Velodrome last weekend. Will Byrne, Brian Hammond, Lennie Kirk and Richard Keller all rode to sixth place in their respective age categories in the points race. In the various pursuit races, Kirk finished 9th, Hammond was 12th and Byrne and Paul Nugent were 11th and 13th.
This Sunday sees the start of the second annual Hibernian/Cycling Ireland National Bike Week, with several pedal picnics being held around the country and the Dublin Bay Fun Cycle also taking place.
Cycling Ireland are hoping that people will participate in the "Bike to Work" drive next week. For further information on the different events, call 1890 909 909 or go to www.cyclingireland.ie.
A six-man tandem cycling squad will today begin their campaign for Paralympic qualification when they take part in the 107-kilometre road race at the International Paralympic Committee European Championships in Prague.
Sight-affected riders Séamus Kelly, Mark Keogh and Billy Shanahan will be partnered on tandems by Phil Finegan, Denis Twomey and Brian Kenneally. They will also ride the 14.5-kilometre time trial on Saturday.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday September 20th: Paddy Neary Memorial, Dundalk. Starts 1 pm.
Sunday 21st: All Ireland Hill Climb Championships, Spelga Pass, 11am; Outsider Magazine Elite Pog 3.5 Challenge, Ballinastoe Wood, Roundwood, Starts 12 noon; Ulster Autumn league round 2, Hilltown circuit, 2pm, Hibernian/Cycling Ireland National Bike Week pedal picnics and Dublin Bay Fun Cycle.
