Strong field gearing up for Sligo race

DEFENDING champion Nicolas Roche, his cousin Daniel Martin who won the title a couple of years ago, three-time winner David O’Loughlin and another former winner, David McCann will line up for the national road race championships in Sligo tomorrow.

What is probably the strongest ever field for the national championships oozes talent, and if one has to pick a favourite it must be O’Loughlin, who goes to the line on the back of what has been an excellent season that included a stage win in the FBD Insurance Rás and has the backing of a strong An Post/Sean Kelly team.

“On all known form the winner has to come from among the professionals,” former Olympic team manager, Martin O’Loughlin, said.