Cycling/ News round-up: Former world junior champion Mark Scanlon has ruled out a return to professional cycling in 2008.
The 27-year-old was the last Irish rider to compete in the Tour de France, completing cycling's toughest event in 2004, but has grown disillusioned with racing in Europe since then.
He considered moving to the US and signed a contract for this year with the Toyota United Pro team, but ultimately didn't do any racing with the Continental team. He spent the year at home in Sligo and is now working there.
Scanlon has pinpointed several reasons for his loss of enthusiasm for professional cycling. He cited long periods of time away from home and a lack of control over his racing schedule as two big factors in his decision. Earlier this year he said he'd consider coming back if he could find a team which would grant him greater control over his programme of races, but now appears to rule that out for now.
"My plan is to continue to stay here and work on my new career," he told The Irish Times this week. "Perhaps I might come back with a team in the future, but it won't be in the next year."
Meanwhile, Irish road race champion David O'Loughlin rode strongly in last Saturday's 18th leg of the Revolution track meet in Manchester velodrome. The Pezula rider finished an excellent third in the 20-kilometre points race behind former world champion Chris Newton and 2006 Spanish national time trial champion Toni Tauler.
The new Irish-based Pezula team were also in action in other events. Former national champion Morgan Fox was best of the team in the 20 laps motor-paced scratch race, placing 13th. Martyn Irvine was one place behind, with Paul Healion and O'Loughlin 23rd and 25th. O'Loughlin was also seventh in the 10km scratch race.
The Irish team competing at the Para-Cycling Pan-American Championships brought their campaign to a strong end when they rode well in the road events last weekend. Enda Smyth was fourth of the CP4 riders in the road race and fifth in the time trial, while Cathal Miller was seventh and eighth respectively in those events.
The tandem duo of Catherine Walsh and Joanna Hickey were seventh in both the Blind and Visually Impaired category time trial and road race. Michael Delaney and David Peelo were eighth in the tandem road race and 10th in the time trial, while Andrew Fitzgerald and John Lynch took 10th in the road race.
The Ireland squad secured three bronze medals in track events and a second place for next year's Paralympics in Beijing.
Fixtures: Saturday- Women's Commission AGM, Spawell Leisure centre, Templeogue. Starts 2pm. Road spin beforehand, starting at 10am (beginners welcome).
Sunday: Winter Trail Quest league. Sign on at Dromara Football Club at 9.45. Leinster cyclo cross race, Corkagh Park (Camac Valley entrance off N7). Starts 12.30.
