Scanlon rejects offer to ride in time trial

IRELAND’S Mark Scanlon yesterday rejected an offer to compete in Wednesday’s individual time trial.

The 23-year-old Sligo cyclist, a world junior champion in 1998, was offered the place due to the absence of David Millar.

“It was a great honour to be offered the place but, after a team meeting, it was decided not to take up the offer,” said cycling team manager, Martin O’Loughlin.

Earlier in the day Scanlon, Ciaran Power and O’Loughlin cycled the route of Saturday’s road race. Afterwards, Scanlon indicated he would compete on Wednesday. However, the exertions of the Tour de France and last week’s Tour of Denmark may have caused him to change his plans.

“I only had time to return to Marseilles for a day to pack a bag for here,” said Scanlon. “At the moment I am on an eight-day break from my team and if I was to ride the time trial next Wednesday it would mean no break at all and the remainder of the season might be very difficult for me.

“Initially it appeared to be too good an opportunity to pass up on but you have to take other things into consideration. I would have had no break at all and I have been riding since the race in Australia last January.”

Scanlon’s focus is certainly on the road race and he described the course through the Athens streets as “interesting”.

“But you just don’t know if it will be difficult or not,” he said.

“The drag is not all that severe when you are out there training but that can be deceiving and it will certainly be more difficult when you have to go up it 17 times. The other hill is a bit steep but the cobbles are not serious and they are not going to do any damage.”

He said the circuit would definitely suit Australian Stewart O’Grady, or maybe the Spanish riders, but he is unconcerned about the weather after his recent campaigns in the Alps and Pyrenees.

“The Tour de France was a great experience,” he said. “It was not too bad physically apart from the fact that you are getting up on the 18th or 19th day and the recovery is just not there. That’s when it becomes difficult.”

Team boss O’Loughlin has already pinpointed the danger area.

“Often the damage is done on the false flat after the hill. You relax once you get over the difficult bit but it is still uphill and, after concentrating on the difficult part, you are inclined to relax and that is when a lot of damage can be done,” he said.

Ciaran Power made no secret of his delight with the circuit. He has been doing a lot of his racing this year on city centre circuits in the USA where he is based with the Navigators team.

‘I like this type of racing and while the circuits might be a bit shorter there is no real adjustment here,” he said.

“I have prepared for this race all season. First I had to qualify for the Olympics, then take time to recover and then get ready for the race.

“And so far everything has gone according to plan. I trained for the past two weeks at the training camp in Cyprus and that was excellent. Everything has gone very well. In fact I would not change a thing. I am looking forward to the race on Saturday.”