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Ciaran Turns On The Power
Ciaran Power brought a marvellous week for himself and the Linda McCartney
Pro Cycling Team to a close by rubbing shoulders with Mario Cipollini in the
closing bunch sprint finishing 11th.
"Ciaran has just got stronger and stronger as the race has progressed, and to
finish up by contesting a very quick sprint like this is amazing," said his
manager Sean Yates. The race's final stage was an out-and-back ride through
the hills just in from the Adriatic coast, starting and finishing in San
Bernedetto Del Tronto with some super-fast circuits of the wealthy resort's
streets.
"Without Tayeb and Dave, we didn't really have a sprinter. I was still near
the front when we were approaching the finish so I decided to have a go,"
explained Ciaran. "I thought I was going to come about 6th, but a Polti guy
sat up and I had to swing round him. I don't think Cipo' was too pleased - he
thought I had switched him!"
The TV action replay showed that the Polti rider had forced Ciaran into the
Lion King's path, slightly delaying his meteoric chase of Roman Vainsteins.
But the Vini Caldirola fastman looked as if he would have won anyway.
Abraham Olano of Once sealed his overall victory and Vainsteins's stage win
gave him the points jersey as the race finished in style on the Adriatic
promenade.
"I signed Ciaran as an all-rounder and someone I want to develop over the
next season or two. On today's showing though, he could become a top-flight
sprinter," predicted Sean Yates. "With his ability to get over the hills, and
his grit and determination, I can see him becoming a similar type of rider to
Johan Museeuw or Laurent Jalabert in the future."
Sean also his big plans for Ciaran's immediate future. "I was going to give
him a weekend off for a rest, but I want to take advantage of his great form.
I'm sending him to GP Cholet and I expect him to be one of our strongest guys
there." The French one-day race near Nantes takes place this Sunday, and is
the squad's next rendezvous.
Report by John Deering
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