As history-steeped symbols go, the Maillot Arc-En-Ciel is one of the most powerful in the sport of cycling. Superseded only by the yellow jersey of the Tours of France and Spain and the pink of the Giro d'Italia, the rainbow jersey, a simple white affair bearing five horizontal, coloured bands instantly identifies the wearer as world champion.

For Sean Kelly, it will always be The One That Got Away. Two bronze medals meant little for the universally proclaimed King of the Classics, the rainbow jersey an elusive prize which always danced out of reach of the best one-day specialist of the 1980s.

In fact, in 104 years Ireland has won only three world championships; Harry Reynolds took amateur gold in Copenhagen in 1896, Stephen Roche the professional prize in Villach in 1987. And two years ago, Mark Scanlon announced his talent in a particularly audacious way when he shocked the crack Italian, Belgian and Dutch squads to scoop the junior title in Valkenburg.

It was a dramatic moment; dramatic in that it validated comparisons between Scanlon and a young Sean Kelly, but also because it re-infused Irish cyclists with the confidence and direction they had been lacking for a number of years.

Looking back, that moment was a catalyst for renewed success; in 1999 Ciaran Power and Morgan Fox raced well all season to become the first new Irish professionals in over a decade. This year, Power finished the Tour of Italy and recorded two excellent top 10 placings; Irish cyclists won a number of international races, including stage wins in the world-ranked Tour of Hokkaido and Herald Sun Tour. And in 2001, we could have as many as four riders in the professional peloton.

Amongst them is one of the youngest riders to join the paid ranks. Mark Scanlon will be a mere 20 when he makes his debut in the colours of the Linda McCartney team next spring, but most observers are convinced that a glittering pro career awaits.

All indications are that this will be the case. Focused, hungry for success, and prodigiously talented, Scanlon has been variously described as "the new Sean Kelly" (by those following the Irish scene), "the most promising rider in years" (according to his manager Frank Quinn) and, regularly, as "a savage" (by his competitors).

Simply put, winning is in his nature. After an-injury blighted 1999 season, normal service was dramatically resumed this year: racing with the French CC Etupes squad, the Sligoman took 12 victories, including two stage wins and the points classification in the Japanese Tour of Hokkaido last month.

And despite breaking his elbow in July, and being one of the youngest riders in the field, he goes into today's under-23 world championship road race in Plouay, France, with genuine hopes of a medal.

"I have no doubt that Mark, or David O'Loughlin (his 22-year-old team-mate from Mayo) can win the race," says national team director Richie Beatty. "They are both in fabulous form and I really feel that they will be right up there at the end."

For his part, Scanlon is keeping mum about his chances. An encouraging - but tough - guest slot with the Linda McCartney team took a lot out of his legs, the Plouay course is more of a grind than anticipated, and it is not in his nature to make rash predictions.

But the feeling persists that, all going well, Scanlon or Irish under-23 champion O'Loughlin both have the legs to be in the thick of the action in the closing stages of the 170 km race.

"It is a pretty hard course, but it all depends on the standard," he asserts. "I look at the Dutch guys and they are guys I should be able to handle no problem, the Belgians are nothing too serious either. I am looking forward to it. "It all depends on how I feel on the day - the two stage races with the Linda McCartney team took a lot out of me, so if the world championships was another week away I would feel a lot more confident. But if I have the legs, I will be right up there," he vows.

In a matter of hours we will know. Scanlon, O'Loughlin, Keith Gallagher and Dermot Nally line up against the world's best under-23 cyclists at 11.30 (Irish time) this morning. A little over four hours later, one of that seething, sprinting mass of riders will earn the right to wear the coveted rainbow jersey for a year. Italian, Belgian, French or Irish - the course around the small Breton village will decide who will become le champion du monde des hommes moins de 23 ans.