While there is more unrest in Irish cycling, with some resignations from the outgoing FIC Board because of lack of leadership, Mark Scanlon is pressing on in his search for a team to launch a career in the top echelon.
The young Sligo man has had talks with officials from teams in France, Holland and Italy but he has not committed himself to one yet although discussions in Dublin last week with Jan Raas, manager of Rabobank, were most promising. It is surprising for the Dutch team to make such an effort to entice a young outsider as they usually concentrate on home talent. Raas had with him Nico Verhoeven, who has charge of new amateurs to their squad, and although Scanlon does not want to go full-time professional yet as he was just 18 when he won the world junior road race championship on October 10th, that is his eventual aim and Rabobank would be a good choice as they have a big staff to bring young riders through from junior ranks.
This year Verhoeven had a group of 16 and there were also 12 juniors managed by Frans Maassen, including Coen Loos, the young Dutchman Scanlon was reluctant to pass inside the final kilometre at Valkenburg. Scanlon, who has been advised by Frank Quinn, Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and Richie Beatty, said he was impressed with what the Rabobank officials said.
"They are obviously a good professional outfit, but the racing on flat courses in Holland would not be ideal for me, I would prefer to race in France. However, they have a good programme of races planned so I'll have to weigh everything up."
Scanlon was invited to attend the reception in Paris yesterday to announce the route for next year's Tour de France and he hoped there would be offers from more team managers. Meanwhile, the Kerry County Board accepted an invitation for a team of six to take part in the 17-day Tour of Cameroon and they leave on Sunday week. The race is from November 20th to December 6th with 10 Cameroon teams and also two French regional selections. as in May are included sponsored by Ciarrai Irish Baltic Trading - Paddy Moriarty, John McCarthy, Denis O'Shea, John Blackwell and Eugene Moriarty are the cyclists bound for central Africa - with Ray Clarke the extra man.
Andy Roche, winner of the Ras in Kerry colours last year was an automatic choice but he went to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur representing his native Isle of Man and returned with tendonitis so cannot go. Tadhg Moriarty and John Mangan asked Clarke from Clonmel to fill the vacancy and the Irish champion accepted. Sean O'Callaghan goes as manager with Joe Crowley the mechanic and Fran O'Connell is masseuse.
Orwell Wheelers have a 50th anniversary dinner dance at the West County Hotel, Chapelizod next Friday night with their most famous member Stephen Roche the guest of honour. Tickets at £10 each are limited to the first 100.
