Scanlon would go on to the pro ranks following his World Junior Championships win, but it was a short career
With the 2012 World Time Trial Titles having been settled in Valkenburg, Holland, since the weekend, the next three days will see nations from around the world battle for the road race rainbow bands. On the eve of what promises to be a fantastic few days, Graham Healy looks back on a famous Irish win the last time the Worlds visited the quaint Dutch town.
The World Road Race Championships have this week returned to Valkenburg in Limburg - the Netherlands’ only hilly province. The last time the Worlds took place here saw a rare Irish success.
In 1998 Mark Scanlon was virtually unbeatable on home soil as he notched up wins in the Gorey Three-Day, the Dunboyne Three-Day and Galway Two-Day. He also joined the list of prestigious winners of the Viking Trophy on the Isle of Man.
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Prior to the World Championships he travelled to the Continent and won the junior Het Volk, beating numerous national champions from around Europe. He was expected to do well at the Worlds, but winning was another matter.
Prior to the Championships Tony Allen of the FIC - as the governing body was known at the time - and others in the support team felt Scanlon could perform. Allen said beforehand: “Both Barry (Monaghan) and Ritchie (Beattie) feel that Mark will get a medal. That's the level they feel he is at, and this is not a flat course by any means.”
The course was more or less the same as the lap the riders will face the next few days as the Junior, U23 and Elite titles are fought for. The two climbs which Allen spoke of were the Cauberg and the Bemelerberg. The riders faced seven laps, totalling 120 kilometres.
Scanlon was joined by Dermot Nally, Stephen Gallagher, Shane Prendergast and David Kenneally on the Irish team. They managed to avoid the numerous crashes in the early part of the race, and coming into the last two laps, Scanlon was in a good position.
A dangerous five-man group went clear and included two Italians. But starting the last lap, they were reeled back as the lead group was reduced to about 50 riders.
Scanlon was held up by a crash on the last lap, but managed to get back on to the lead group. On the last ascent of the Bemelerberg, a group for seven went clear, which included Scanlon and Patrick Sinkewitz (Germany), amongst others. They were soon joined by Filippo Pozzatto (Italy) and Eduard Kivichev (Russia).
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I watched the action that day on the Cauberg and was trying the best I could to follow what was happening in the race over the tannoy system. We knew Scanlon was in contention coming onto the last climb, but when the lead group passed us he had been dropped, as Pozzato and Kivichev led the charge.
We really thought he was too far back to be in contention for a medal, and took satisfaction from his great performance that day. I thought the top of the climb was too close to the finish for Scanlon to get back to the leaders.
He proved me wrong though, and we listened to the announcer confirm he had in fact won the race. Scanlon had regained the leaders, and had enough strength to lead out the sprint; taking the win ahead of Pozzato and Kivichev.
Scanlon told journalists after the race: "I lost a bit on the Cauberg, but I got back on and felt I had good legs. In the sprint I just kept going all the way to the finish."
"It's all mindboggling," Scanlon went on to say.
"I didn't think I could win. I thought I could get top ten but not win. The team really helped me and I have to thank them. We raced and trained together for three weeks in Holland and Belgium."
Fans from other countries congratulated us on the win as we made our way towards the finish line. It had been a great team performance, as all five of the team completed the race. The celebrations continued long into the night back at the team hotel, as Scanlon was congratulated by Stephen Roche amongst others.
It was the Sligoman’s 18th birthday that day and it was an unforgettable way to celebrate it.
Looking back, Scanlon’s win was all the more impressive when you consider who was also competing that day. Amongst the juniors lining up in Valkenburg who would go on to be successful professionals were Fabian Cancellara, Bradley Wiggins, Geert Steegmans, Yaroslav Popovych, Danielle Bennati, Michael Albasini, and Allan Davis. Tom Boonen and Frank Schleck were amongst the non-finishers.
Scanlon would eventually go on to turn professional after a false start with the Linda McCartney team. He enjoyed a number of successes, and would go on to finish the Tour de France in 2004. However, he retired from the sport at the young age of 26. He still remains one of just a handful of Irish cyclists to have won a world title, and hopefully we will see more impressive Irish performances in Limburg in coming days.
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