A new president of the Irish Cycling Federation will be elected at the a.g.m. in Malahide tomorrow. Pat McQuaid has to stand down after two terms of two years in office and Mick Lawless and Paddy O'Callaghan have been nominated to take over.

With a close contest expected, the more experienced O'Callaghan has an impressive CV but Lawless has the support of the Leinster Federation and that could be decisive.

Paddy Doran is unopposed as head of coaching while Tommy Campbell switches from leisure affairs to chairman of the development committee. That leaves the way clear for Liam Leahy from Midleton to take charge of leisure.

The only other ballot will be for control of mountain bike racing and Peter Purfield has opposition from Denis Middleton of Mayo.

The other five members of the ICF board stay in for another year - Jack Watson as secretary, treasurer Peter Thornton, Ciaran McKenna as PRO, Sean O'Callaghan, who is in charge of under age competition and Eamon Lawlor, who was drafted in last month as head of the sporting committee.

Ciaran Power maintained his fine run of high placings in international competition by taking the bronze medal position in the B world championship road race in Uruguay last Sunday, with Eugene Moriarty finishing fifth, and this ensures two Irish places in the Olympic road race at Sydney. By finishing fourth in the women's event Deirdre Murphy earns a place in her Olympic race line-up so it was a very successful venture for national team director Richie Beatty.

Discussions are at an advanced stage for Power to join the British Linda McCartney team next year, now newly based at Toulouse - the contract may be signed over the weekend.