Cycling: Floyd Landis is about to find out if he will hold on to his Tour de France title; the result of his B sample is expected tomorrow.
The American gave a positive A sample in a doping test taken after his victory on stage 17, his ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone registering at 11 to 1. The permissible limit is 4 to 1.
Landis has said he expects the B sample to mirror the previous test result but will appeal on the grounds his testosterone has always been high.
This claim has not been verified by cycling's world governing body, the UCI, and indeed there have been reports in recent days that further examination of his A sample has shown some of the testosterone concerned was exogenous (from an outside source).
Should he fail to be cleared by the B sample and any appeals processes, the Phonak rider stands to lose his Tour de France title and would face a two-year ban from the sport.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Roche finished an excellent fourth on the first leg of the 2.1-ranked Paris-Corrèze race this week. The Cofidis rider came in just ahead of France's Thomas Voeckler, crossing the line 3 minutes and 39 seconds behind the day's winner, Didier Rous (Bougyues Telecom). Roche has shown good form of late, placing eighth in the 1.1-ranked Polynormand and the Criterium Camors in France.
Cycling Ireland has ratified three Irish 10-mile time-trial records set at Woodgreen on June 15th. David McCann took 35 seconds off his previous mark in clocking 18:24. Thomas Martin (Clann Éireann) took the junior record with a best of 20:28. And Seán Hargan (Phoenix) improved his veteran mark to 20:14.
Finally, a major race for underage riders is taking place in Killorglin this weekend with the running of the Kerry Youth Tour there. The county will also host the Gene Moriarty Cup on Sunday.
IRISH TEAM (for junior world championships in Spa, Belgium, August 10th/13th): Time trial: Denis Dunworth (Killorglin CU CC), Thomas Martin (Clann Éireann). Road race: Isaac Speirs (Navan Road Club), Diarmuid Cronin (South Dublin CC), Stephen Halpin (McNally Swords CC).
WEEKEND FIXTURES: Saturday: Sundrive Track Racing, Eamonn Ceannt Park. Starts 11am. Mountnugent GP. Starts 7pm. Saturday-Monday: Kerry Youth Tour, Killorglin. Stage one starts from Beaufort GAA centre at 2.30pm.Sunday: Gene Moriarty Cup, Listowel. Starts 1pm. Open 10-mile time trial, Warrenpoint/Newry Dual Carriageway. Starts 10am. Downhill NPS round 5, Ballinastoe Wood, Wicklow. Starts noon. Crotty Cup, Kilrush. Starts 12.30 pm.
