1998 World Junior Champion Mark Scanlon of Sligo in Ireland won his second stage of the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan this week. The 19-year old is in his last series of races for his country before joining his new Linda McCartney teammates at the Circuit Franco-Belge at the back end of next week.

It is Mark's best performance in an international race since that brilliant win in Valkenburg two years ago, and proves that his difficult 1999 is behind him. Turning pro with Dutch giants Rabobank should have been a great start to his pro career, but injuries made the year one to forget.

"It's amazing to think that Mark is only 19, as he might not reach his peak for another 10 years," pointed out his new manager Sean Yates. "It's tremendous that he already has this ability to win good races. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Mark's fellow Irishman Brian Keneally has been riding strongly for Linda McCartney in his trial with the team. En route to Max Sciandri's brilliant Giro del Lazio victory on Saturday, Max asked the young Irishman to work to bring back a dangerous break. Together with David McKenzie, Brian rode his heart out and paved the way for one of the team's best ever wins.

At yesterday's Coppa Sabatini, won by the evergreen Russian/Ukrainian/Belgian Andrei Tchmil, Brian and Tayeb Braikia finished in the main bunch of forty or so survivors after a long hard day in the saddle. "Most of the triallists from the other teams were going out the back in the first couple of laps. It was nine really tough circuits and Brian hung in there all the way," reported mechanic Craig Geater. Tayeb is also preparing for Circuit Franco Belge, where he turned in a majestic performance last year that convinced the team of his great potential. He also hopes to feature in the Danish team for Manchester's World Track Championships at the end of October.

Max, Ciaran and Bjornar are all trying to keep out of the limelight and prepare in their own ways for the Olympic road race next Saturday. "It can be difficult when all the other sports are finished and the athletes want to party. As one of the Games' big events, we're right at the end, so we have to stay concentrated," explained Ciaran from the Irish HQ in New South Wales.