McCann set to guest star in Rás Mumhan

DAVID McCANN will begin his build-up to a defence of his FBD Insurance RÁS title in Kerry over the Easter weekend, when he lines up as favourite to win the Rás Mumhan, the perfect prelude to Irish cycling’s showpiece.

In recent years the event has taken on many of the characteristics of the Rás - great organisation, tough mountain stages and then the 10k time trial on Easter Sunday morning when McCann can clinch victory.

He rides the event as a guest on a strong Earl of Desmond team that also includes the teak-tough Tralee man Paul Griffin, Sean Lacey and the underrated Willie Gleeson.

Should he succeed in taking the title, he will become the first Irishman to win since Listowel international Eugene Moriarty back in 2001, as part of Philip Cassidy’s Lee Strand/Cycleways.

Moriarty will be back again this year, although he has not raced much since going down with illness after last year’s FBD Insurance RÁS.

Cassidy, too, will be back this year on a team that again includes the former Irish Universities champion, Aidan Crowley from Midleton, and another former winner of the event, Stephen O’Sullivan.

The Killorglin club, which hosts the event, will have a strong contender this year in Micheal Concannon, son of the new President of Cycling Ireland, Micheal Concannon.

But the man of the moment is Rory Wyley from Dungarvan.

Last year he was a sensational winner of the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow and last weekend he became one of a handful in the history of the classic to defend the title, with another powerful display on the Butt.

His Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers club mate, Timmy Barry, finished second and the Corkman, who has had some power-packed performances in the Rás Mumhan, has won stage races like the Tour of Ulster and is due another big win.

Philip Cassidy was third in Carlow on Sunday and Fermoy, a cycling stronghold for generations, provided the fourth-placed rider in Michael Hennessy, who will also fancy his chances this weekend.

Twins Denis and Daniel Lynch will reunite thisseason on the KanturkCredit Union team and Denis, after a spell on the continent, will relish the home scene again.

For the past three years the title has been taken out of the country by English riders and they will be represented again by a team from Surrey, while there is also a team from Holland in the line-up.

The race gets under way on Good Friday with a tough 50-mile stage.