Wednesday, February 3rd---The tour of Langkawi stared today, with a 9.2 km time-trial, and then a 25 lap criterium. Our Irish team did quite well. To view the full results go to the official page, www.tdl.com.my/ with results being posted by Irishman Seamus Shortall. If you just want to see how the Irish team did, click here.
Sunday, February 7th---So far, in the Tour of Langkawi, the Irish have not really featured, except in Stage 2, when Michael Fitzgerald finished sixth in a bunch sprint. Mike McNena has been doing the best overall, but in today's stage he lost 14 minutes the main group. The only Irish person in the main group was Dermot Finnegan.
Also, the ICF are looking for potential future commissaires to come forward. There is a shortage of them in the country, so if you, or anyone you know, has any interest in becoming one, then contact the ICF at the usual address. (For those that don't know, a commissaire is the cycling official - the equivialnt of the referee in soccer.)
Tuesday, February 16th---The Tour of Langkawi is over. To see a very brief review, go here. Fair play to the lads for competing in the extreme conditions.
Also, the ICF have organised a pre-season commisaires seminar for Februry 20th, as they are still looking for new commisaires. It is to be held in the Spa Hotel, Lucan, Dublin. For more info, contact Pat Clarke at the ICF HQ.
Monday, February 22nd---I have got the route for the Tour of Egypt up on the Irish Abroad Page. The latest UCI rankings have been announced. Ireland, with 71 points, is positioned 50th, right behind the likes of Iran, Romania, Hungary and Guatemala. Italy are leaders with 13,639 points. As for the riders themselves:
| POS: | RIDER NAME: | POINTS: |
| 1 | Michele Bartoli | 2'808.00 |
| 941 | Raymond Clarke | 15.00 |
| 1143 | David Mc'Cann | 9.00 |
| 1202 | Ian Chivers | 8.00 |
| 1202 | Scott Hamilton | 8.00 |
| 1260 | Patrick Moriarty | 7.00 |
| 1311 | Conor Henry | 6.00 |
| 1364 | Morgan Fox | 5.00 |
| 1364 | Jamie Hunter | 5.00 |
| 1487 | Paul Healion | 4.00 |
| 1487 | Neil Taggart | 4.00 |
| 1579 | David O'Loughlin | 3.00 |
| 1623 | Aidan Duff | 2.00 |
| 1623 | John Grant | 2.00 |
| 1687 | Ian Proctor | 1.00 |
Also, the results of the Connaught Spring League Round 1, held yesterday in Galway, are as follows :
| Pos : | Name : | Club : |
| 1 | Mike McNena | Velo Club La Pomme |
| 2 | Nigel Forde | Thermo King CC |
| 3 | Simon Kelly | Thermo King CC |
| 4 | Frank Barrett | Thermo King CC |
| 5 | Keith McNamara | unattached |
| Best Junior | ||
| 7 | Jonathon Kelly | Thermo King CC |
Friday, February 26th--- Raymond Clarke has won Stage 3 of the highly regarded, internationally commended - well maybe not - Tour of Rhodes. He beat the rest of the peleton by 14 seconds. Ciaran Power is still in 7th position overall, with full Irish results here.
Nothing else to report really, except to remind you all of the Connaught Cycling Federations training race in Cong, Co.Mayo, on Sunday coming. It's promoted by Mayo Wheelers, and sign-on is at 10:30 at O'Connors shop. The route is 30 miles.
Also, the Cycleways GP Cycle Races held by Avonmore Navan Road Club is this Sunday. Headquarters and sign-on for the race are at the Rugby Club (Adjacent to the Ardboyne Hotel) on the Dublin Road. Races will start at 12.30pm sharp. The course will go from Navan, Garlow Cross, Kentstown, Johnstown and back into Navan, with senior as doing 5 laps, Senior Bs doing 4 and Juniors doing 3.
Sunday, February 28th--- Today saw the first major race of the senior season, the Cycleways GP in Navan. Galway man, Michael McNena won the race, with Eddie O'Donoghue in second position. Apologies, but I mixed up the names first time round. I'm not too sure if I have all the right first names, but the full results are :
| Pos : | Name : |
| 1 | Mike McNena |
| 2 | Eddie O'Donoghue |
| 3 | David McCann |
| 4 | Michael Fitzgerald |
| 5 | Brendan Graham |
| 6 | David Peelo |
| 7 | Stephen O'Sullivan |
| 8 | Philip Cassidy |
| 9 | Aidan Duff |
| 10 | Ross Blaney |
| Senior B | |
| 1 | M. Short |
| Junior | |
| 1. | Dennis Lynch |
| 2. | David Lynch |
| 7. | Jonathon Kelly |
| Veteran | |
| S. Kennedy | |
| Ladies | |
| Susan O'Mara | |