Six weeks after the collapse of the Linda McCartney team left him without a pro contract, it has been confirmed that former world junior champion Mark Scanlon will race for the French Nantes 44 squad this year.
The talented 20-year-old has opted to join the amateur team due to its links with the first division Mercury outfit, who have been keen to sign him since he won his world title in 1998. Scanlon will race with Nantes 44 for most of the season before starting a pro trial with the burgeoning American team this Autumn.
“The link with Mercury was a big factor in our decision”, explained Scanlon’s agent Frank Quinn today. “We were searching for a new team ever since the Linda McCartney set-up collapsed and after much consideration, Nantes 44 seems to be the best option. There were a few professional teams who had shown some interest, but time was dragging on and there was no sign that they would definitely sign Mark. It is March now and he really can’t wait any longer.”
The hunt for a professional deal had been complicated by the fact that many top squads had already completed their line-up by the time the McCartney side dissolved in late January, following financial difficulties. Once a paid deal became unlikely, Scanlon and Quinn considered amateur placements with the Team Ireland set up and the CC Etupes squad, with whom he raced last year. But in the end, a fresh start and the lure of a possible contract with Mercury proved the deciding factor. Scanlon thus opted for the Nantes 44 side, with whom Dubliner Aidan Duff competed in 2000.
The Sligoman will begin his 2001 season with the Irish squad in the GP Lillers this Sunday, after which he will remain in France and make his debut with the Nantes 44 team. Scanlon is also likely to race with the Irish squad this year when his schedule permits, with the under 23 world championships in Portugal this October likely to be a major target.
Surprisingly, the prodigious cyclist was overlooked when funding was announced yesterday for this year’s International Carding Scheme. The anomaly, which is the result of an inflexible criteria for qualification, is likely to be corrected through the awarding of financial assistance via Team Ireland coffers.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
