As the visiting teams assembled in Dublin last evening for the FBD Milk Ras, which gets under way from O'Connell Street at noon today, the organiser, Dermot Dignam, announced a few late changes, the most major being the introduction of David McCann in the Armagh team.
The Belfast rider was second to Tommy Evans in the 1996 Ras and runner-up to both Ray Clarke in the national road race championship at Clane last year and to Morgan Fox at Carrick-on-Suir in 1997. Recently he has been racing in Cahors in France. Meanwhile, the Estonians have arrived without their top man, Sigvard Kukk, who has had to pull out because of a virus. Last year Kukk had the leader's jersey for four days and eventually finished sixth.
Mark Lovatt, winner of the fiveday Tour of Lancashire two weeks ago, is another late addition, although he may be in the USA/Europe combination. The others in the squad are Simon Steiner of Switzerland, Americans Colby Pearce and Isaiah Adams and Ian Humble of Britain.
The British trade team Linda McCartney also revealed an alteration. Jon Clay is still their number one but Julian Winn has been replaced by 20-year-old Australian Ben Brooks, a former world junior track champion.
Allowing for late withdrawals, Dignam expects a line-up of between 140 and 145.
Le Figaro reported yesterday that Tour de France sponsors Coca-Cola and Festina would withdraw their backing if the event, sullied by doping scandals last year, failed to improve its image.
For now, he said, the company had confidence in the Tour organisers.
