In the lead-up to the FBD Insurance Rás which starts on Sunday May 23 and runs until Sunday May 30, breakingnews.ie gives you a run-down of the basics of professional cycling.

PHILIP DEIGNAN’S performances to date in the Tour of Germany would indicate he has hit form at precisely the right time in advance of the Tour of Ireland professional cycle race which gets underway with an exciting stage from Kilkenny to Cork tomorrow week.

CIARAN POWER arrived back in Ireland in ample time to challenge Mark Scanlon for the national cycling championship title in Sligo tomorrow when the defending champion will have the advantage of hometown support and local knowledge in his defence of the title.