Scanlon to ride in Tour de France

Mark Scanlon will become the first Irish rider to take part in the cycling’s holy grail the Tour de France next month since 1987 winner Stephen Roche bowed out 11 years ago.

23-year-old Scanlon has climbed to 115th in the UCI world rankings. Now the Sligo man will start the 101st tour’s Liege prologue on July 3 in Ag2R Prevoyance colours.

Coach Padraig Marrey said it was an inevitable course for the 1998 world junior champion. “He was too young to ride the 2003 tour, but he has shown unreal ability this season,” said Marrey, a Cycling Ireland development officer.

“No Irish rider has touched him this year and barring injury he will be at the Olympics in August.”

Currently training in the Alps, Scanlon is back in Ireland for the National road championships on June 27.

His rankings rise, 66 points short of the world’s top 100, has seen Ireland into the top 30 nations and in line for two automatic places at September’s World championship.