Keen competition is assured over the Easter period with almost 400 in action in the usual three stage races. Ras Mumhan starts today at Nenagh and goes on to Monday at Thurles, while the Irish Road Club's 33rd annual three-day event from Brittas to Gorey and back starts tomorrow. The Tour of the North is again being held over five days with the prologue time trial at Ballyclare this evening and the finish on Tuesday at Ballymena. When entries closed for the Irish Road Club's promotion a total of 183 entries had been received but it is being confined to the first 160. The team to represent Leinster is Shane Connaughton, Karl Brannigan, David Lane and David Finnegan.

Because of the car rally there is a change in tomorrow's route between Tinahely and Carnew, making it 67 miles. Sunday morning's time trial is over four miles from Clough, first off at nine o'clock, with four laps of 15 miles at 2.30. The final stage leaves Gorey on Monday at 12.30 for 63 miles back to Brittas.

First category licence holders are excluded from the Gorey race but they have Ras Mumhan. There was a break with tradition last year when it started on Good Friday and that continues with stage one today over 70 miles from Nenagh (1.0) to Adare. There is 76 miles tomorrow on to Kenmare with 85 miles to Mitchelstown on Sunday and the final stage is to Thurles.

Sean Bracken's Leinster team is Philip Cassidy, Adrian Hedderman, Colm Bracken and Stephen O'Sullivan. Last year Brian Kenneally won from Ciaran Power but this time it should go to Power, who rides with the Cidona team.

There are also some changes to the Tour of the North format this year. The prologue time trial is over 4.7 miles at Ballyclare this evening (5.0) with two circuits of 38 miles at Dundonald tomorrow. As well as the Sunday 6.5 miles time trial at Derry, there will be a stage of 52 miles. Limavady is the venue for the Monday stage and it finishes the next day at Ballymena.

The champion Ray Clarke rides there in an effort to chalk up an overdue Irish success but last year's winner, Andy Proffitt, is in the line-up again.

Mark Scanlon had his best placing last Sunday since joining the Dutch Rabobank amateur squad. He said the racing had been very tough, in excess of 100 miles, but he and team officials were pleased with his progress. There were 50 in the bunch sprint on Sunday at the end of the Midden Brabant, which included some of the dreaded cobbled stretches, and he was second best of the team.

Scanlon has another outing at Bommelerward on Monday and, after the Tour de Loir et Cher from April 13th to 18th, he will be home in Sligo for a break. He may take part in the Tour of Ulster on May 1st, 2nd and 3rd.