A young Davy O'Loughlin drives the breakaway during stage four of the then FBD Insurance Rás from Caherciveen to Killorglin. Riding for the An Post M Donnelly team, the Mayo man won the stage on a day he regards as one of his best ever. He's back racing this year and a word of warning - he's training hard.
By Brian Canty
Three-time Irish national road race champion Davy O’Loughlin has said his return to the domestic peloton is motivated by a desire to have fun and give as much as he can back to the sport.
The Mayo man will ride for Cunga CC this year and will spearhead a small but strong racing team that includes, amongst others, Mark Quigley, Jason Prendergast and Anthony Murray.
The team plans to take part in all the big races on the calendar – though father of two O’Loughlin is unsure if he’ll have the time to commit to competing in the An Post Rás.
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“I don’t have anything to prove to myself or anyone else but I suppose coming back is just for fun,” he told stickybottle.
“I always cycle my bike and always enjoy physical exercise so really, the main goals are to have fun and to give something back to the next generation and to the club.
“Whatever level I can come back to; it is what it is, given whatever time I have to train.
“I’m training hard and we’ll see how it goes but I still have a bit to go to get to the level I was at previously.
“I’ve some of my friends involved from back when I was involved and that’s great to see too.”
O'Loughlin says his return to racing is strictly for fun, but he should still be a formidable competitor.
Former Rás winner David McCann will coach some riders in the club while another ex-international, Morgan Fox, is also on board as a sponsor.
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O’Loughlin said he’s “humbled” to have such luminaries involved and he’ll look to represent them as best he can.
“Rás Mumhan will be the first big one we’ll compete in and after that is Ulster,” he said of the team’s plan.
“I don’t think the Rás is on the cards (for me).
“It’ll be very difficult in terms of getting time off work. I’d love to but we’ll see how it goes, for a small club like ours it’s expensive but we’ll see what we can do, I wouldn’t rule it out yet.”
Asked what races elude his palmarés, the former Olympian said: “Hopefully I’ll ride Rás Mumhan and the Tour of Ulster and have a half decent national championships in June.
“I’m going to be busy for the summer with the nature of our tourism business (he runs an outdoor adventure sports company in Cong) but I’d like to compete in Sundrive Road as well.
“I’ve never done that so maybe the national track championships is something I’d like to try.
“I’ve never won the Hanlon or maybe the Shay Elliott would be nice to win again.
“We’ll see how it goes. It’s not all about the wins and the results; it’s more for me and the process and getting out there and having fun.
“My kids (6 and 3) are getting a bit older and they’re old enough to know what Daddy is doing and I’d like them to have a memory of me racing.
“Whatever level that is I’m not too concerned, the most important thing for me is to be out on the bike, having fun and enjoying it.”
Interestingly, the An Post Rás route announcement brought O’Loughlin back to the Connor Pass and the last time it was included in the race.
That was 2009 where he was first over the climb, but would be caught by the bunch on the run-in to Killorglin.
“I remember suffering over that climb a few times in horrible conditions; it looks like a challenging route and looks like it’ll be as exciting as ever.
“I’d love to but I’m not sure if it’s realistic because of my work and family commitment but never say never.”
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