Streamlined Irish Tour for Lance

ORGANISERS of the Tour of Ireland cycle race, held in association with Fáilte Ireland, have announced a new three-day format for 2009.

The race, from Friday, 21 to Sunday, August 23, will welcome seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong who is bringing his Astana team to Ireland for the first time. Six-times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish (Columbia – HTC) also returns to Ireland where he scored three consecutive stage wins last year.