CYCLING EUROPEAN ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS:MOTIVATED BY his success in the Route du Sud and then in last Sunday's Irish road race championships, Daniel Martin will aim for a strong ride tomorrow in the European under-23-junior road race championships, being held in various locations in Italy.
The 21-year-old Garmin- Chipotle professional is in excellent form and is hopeful the rumours of a hilly course prove to be correct.
"My goal is to win it, obviously," he says. "It would be so awesome to come across the line in the green jersey. Obviously with the [strong] legs I have got at this moment, the world championship is a big aim, but I am not going to turn down the Europeans. Anyway, I might not get these same legs back later in the year."
Martin, whose mother Maria is a sister of Stephen Roche, grew up in Birmingham but declared for Ireland several seasons ago. The British junior champion at the time, he felt there was a lack of support from British Cycling because he was not a track rider.
Martin's success in the Route du Sud started speculation within the British media that British Cycling might try to coax him back. He dismisses talk of this, however.
"I have always loved racing in Ireland, and I like being Irish. It is the best choice I have ever made. There is no way I'm changing now.
"When I was down, the Irish picked me up. They helped me to get into the top level of cycling. It is the case that now I have become good, they [British Cycling] are saying, 'come back, come back'. No way. I am too at home in Irish cycling."
He will be supported by Isaac Speirs, Derek Burke and Ronan McLaughlin in the race.
Meanwhile, new Irish junior champion Sam Bennett, runner-up Charles Prendergast, Philip Lavery, Michael Duffy and Aaron Buggle will all represent Ireland in the junior Europeans on Sunday, then return for the M Donnelly Junior Tour of Ireland.
The first four from that list will be the Ireland team selection for that race. It begins in Castlebar on Tuesday and runs for six days. Further information is available from Alice Sherratt on 087 2929913.
Finally, a number of events are taking place this weekend. These include the Bobby Crilly three-day, as well as the IVCA time trial championships and the Betty Darcy Memorial in Gorey. The latter event also incorporates the seventh round of the Zoo Hair Salon/Velotex women's national league. Fiona Meade (St Finbarr's) has a narrow one-point league over Heather Boyle (Ravens).
WEEKEND FIXTURES:Friday - Sunday: Bobby Crilly three-day, Crumlin (Ulster). Saturday: Track training, Eamonn Ceannt Park, starts 11 am. Sunday: Betty Darcy Memorial, Gorey, starts noon; IVCA 50-mile TT championships, Enfield, starts 9.15 am.
