Deignan back in action

By Shane Stokes

Promising Irish climber Philip Deignan has finally made his return to competition following a highly frustrating couple of months for the AG2R Prévoyance rider. The 22 year-old crashed in his first race of the season back on January 31, suffering a broken collarbone. He recovered from that but was then forced to scratch from AG2R’s squad for the Giro d’Italia squad due to a kidney infection. It was subsequently discovered that he had glandular fever, a problem he has only got over in the past few weeks.

Deignan returned to racing on Sunday when he rode the Châteauroux Classic de l'Indre Trophée Fenioux in France. He finished 90th, 13 minutes and 12 seconds behind Crédit Agricole’s Nicolas Vogondy. He is currently competing in the Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne and should continue to build form there.

The Donegal rider had a strong debut season in 2005, finishing fifth in the European championships and ninth in the world under 23 road race in Madrid. He is regarded by some in Irish cycling as the most gifted of its up and coming riders.