Irish schoolboy Michael O’Loughlin has secured a place on a prestigious development squad for the best young riders in Europe, to be managed by former pros Erik Zabel and Andrea Tafi.
The Carrick CC rider, who is just about to turn 15 years, will receive a full set of equipment for the year including a bike, will get to partake in training camps with the squad and will also race with them for a block of international fixtures during a period later in the year.
The ‘Canyon Young Heroes Team’ is backed by Canyon bikes, with the selected riders mentored by Zabel and Tafi.
O’Loughlin’s first assignment with the squad will come next month when he will fly to Tuscany for a training camp and a get-to-know-you session on the country estate owned by Tafi.
O’Loughlin won the Mayo Youth Tour last year and in 2010. He was winner of the U14 National TT Championships last year and was runner up in the road race. He also enjoyed GC victory in three other U14 stage races he rode last year.
He is the son of Martin O’Loughlin, who has recently taken on a development position in Cycling Ireland and will also manage the Irish team at the Olympics.
O’Loughlin jnr was one of hundreds of leading young rides from across Europe to apply for a place on the Canyon squad for this year. The process involves a jury selecting the riders based on their application forms and results.
One of the most high profile young riders to emerge from the programme and progress quickly is Rick Zabel, son of legendary German sprinter Erik.
He was fifth in the Junior World Championships in Copenhagen in September and will ride on the Rabobank development squad this season.
The Canyon Young Heroes Team features riders in two age categories; 15+ and 17+.
While the full line-up for the 2012 squad has not yet been formally announced, there were a total of 19 riders in those two categories last year; fifteen in the 15+ age group and four riders in the 17+ group.
There were seven other riders attached to the 2011 programme who were classified as ‘Friends of Canyon’, of which Rick Zabel was one.
The ‘Canyon Young Heroes’ concept has been in operation since 2008. While it is generally dominated by German riders, last year’s programme also included athletes from Spain, France, the UK and other countries.
Some of those on the 15+ programme last year have been retained and will take their places on the 17+ programme in 2012, meaning they will continue to develop as juniors within the programme.
