The big regret about the Tour de France starting here next year is that there will not be any Irish riders taking part. But some of those in the Junior Tour of Ireland next week will be hoping that they will eventually follow the first winner of the event, Martin Earley in 1978, into the top level in the Tour de France.

Pat McQuaid has responsibility for both promotions and, despite the drop in numbers in junior competitions, he has managed to attract a good, representative entry of 105 for the Junior Tour, sponsored for the seventh year by the League of Credit Unions.

The Ireland team heads the list. Chosen for duty are last year's winner Barry Twohig, Mark Scanlon, Emmet Hogan and David McQuaid. Although Twohig has not had a very successful season, he has a great opportunity of becoming the first to win the tour twice.

Dermot Nally, winner of the junior championship at Carrickon-Suir at the end of June, rides with the Emerald-Diamond Back squad. Nally was born in Cork but has lived with his parents in Valencia for over 10 years and looked very promising when leading Hogan in at the end of the title race.

There are teams representing Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Scotland and Wales with six English regional selections. Also included are Ulster CF, South East, Drogheda and Telecom of the Western Region. Dublin is bypassed on the route again as the start is in Gorey on Sunday with the finish the following Sunday in Drogheda.

Stage one provides a difficult opening 51 miles as the roundabout loop to Enniscorthy takes in the climb at Mount Leinster at half-way. Monday's stage of 58 miles is to Waterford.

On Tuesday there is 50 miles to Kilkenny where there will be a five-miles time trial on Wednesday morning with 48 miles in the afternoon to Thurles.

The riders have more climbing on Thursday on the longest stage of 75 miles to Ballinasloe but there is a much easier 46 miles on to Mullingar the next day.

The penultimate stage tomorrow week is just 45 miles to Navan, including three times around a lap of five miles and the finale is over eight laps of a circuit of almost seven miles at Drogheda bringing the total to 433 miles. Also on next week is the Kingdom series, starting with the McKenna Cup in Killorglin tomorrow, with an overall prize fund of £5,500 on offer. In addition Sunday's Gene Moriarty memorial race at Listowel is number eight of 10 events to count in the classic league. Raymond Clarke leads with 55 points with Tommy Evans next on 39 and then David Peelo and Karl Donnelly have 31.

Tadhg Moriarty announces that Ras winner Andy Roche heads the line-up which also includes a team from Lincoln. Last year's winner Eugene Moriarty has not fully recovered from injury and is delaying a decision about competing until Sunday morning. The other events in the Kingdom series are at Killarney on Monday, Kanturk on Tuesday, then a break on Wednesday, a hill climb at Listowel on Thursday, Currow on Friday, Kilrush on Saturday and it finishes as usual on Sunday week at Knockanure.

Sunday's veterans 25 miles time-trial on the Navan Road will start at the Blanchardstown roundabout (8.0am) instead of Clonee.