Michael O'Loughlin said the minute his World Championships warm-up began he knew he was on a great day (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
In Ponferrada
Michael O’Loughlin has said he felt “on top of the world” this afternoon when he took his place in the hot seat after a blistering time in the junior men’s time trial (TT) at the World Championships saw him lead the race.
The first year junior from Carrick-on-Suir clocked a stunning time of 37:56:30 on the 29.5 kilometre course in Ponferrada, Spain today. He would occupy top spot for a prolonged period and though he was nudged from it, he finished an excellent 8th on the day.
Few would have predicted a top 10 for him, but the Nicolas Roche Performance Team rider knew as soon as started his warm-up that he was on a good day.
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“I knew it then that I was going to go well,” he said.
“I was really concentrated and the legs were feeling good but sometimes that doesn’t translate onto the road. But after the first few kilometres I could feel they were good and I was going to put in as good a time as I could so I was wicked happy with how I went.”
O’Loughlin told stickybottle before his ride that he was inspired by Ryan Mullen’s silver medal-winning display the day before, and the mood created by Mullen certainly seemed to have a lasting impact.
“I could see my minute man early on and caught him just before the first checkpoint,” said O’Loughlin.
“I think that’s why my early time was so good; because I was pushing on to catch him. I didn’t know I was going out that fast but Neil Martin (team manager) was in the car behind and he was on the speaker telling me I was the fastest at the first checkpoint.
Warming up and mentally preparing for battle; where he put in the fight of his life on the biggest stage of all (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“But I didn’t believe him, I just thought he was trying to spur me on. It did work though because I wanted to drive on. But there was a part of me thinking he was just trying to get the best out of me.
“I was just going purely on feel, there were distance markers on the road. I train with a heart rate monitor and a Garmin but in the time-trial I didn’t bother with it.
“Neil announced again that I was fastest through the second checkpoint and I was really surprised again. So after that I said ‘control your breathing, get that right, keep the rhythm going and when you get to the final climb, bury yourself’. So that’s what I did.”
The climb was no place for the feint-hearted and saw many riders really struggle, but not the flying Irishman.
“We trained on it yesterday and I didn’t think it was as hard as it was today,” he said.
Flat-out with the Irish team car in close pursuit; O'Loughlin didn't believe the updates he was getting (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“But we knew what to expect. I just made sure I kept a light gear and kept going. As I was getting closer to the top I was shifting up the gears, really going 100 per cent.
“I was giving it everything because I knew it was pretty much downhill all the way to the finish.”
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From there, it was all about emptying the tank on the run to the line.
“They were roaring me on from behind, telling me I was going really well. And once I got into the last kilometre Neil wanted me to be cautious.
“But I think the adrenaline was pumping because the crowds were amazing. They were unbelievable, I think there were a load of kids just out from school and they were roaring me on. The final bend I took pretty quickly and tried to carry my momentum to the line.
After the climb near the finish, he said he simply buried himself as deep as he could all the way to the line (Photo: Sirotti)
“When I crossed the line I wasn’t too sure where I was on the leader board. I just crossed the line and our soigneur caught me and made sure I was okay.
“I asked her was I in a hot seat and that was a goal Neil set for us last night. He told me I was in the gold medal hot seat and it was just unbelievable.
“I was delighted, everyone from Cycling Ireland was coming in to congratulate me; Neil Martin, Neil Delahaye, Lindsay Gamble, it was amazing. I felt on top of the world.”
He knew he would be shifted out of it the top spot as the day unfolded but for those magical minutes he felt untouchable.
“It’s right up there, it’s hard to explain, I was in shock,” he said.
“If you told me I’d get near it yesterday I’d have taken it but I wouldn’t have believed you. So to go out and do it today was great.
“But I knew the strongest guys were going to come in the last 15 off. I’ve raced against most of them all year. The European champion (and eventual winner Lennard Kamna of German); I knew he’d be on the podium.
“And there were a couple of others I knew would go close but I was ahead of a couple of riders I didn’t expect to be ahead of. I was delighted.
“When I first got into the hot seat I was thinking ‘I’m in the top 15’. And then a few more came in and I started thinking ‘this could be top 10’. So I was delighted with 8th. I’d have taken it this morning for sure.”
He said he had been able to hone his position since his father - former Irish international, former national vets’ champion and Cycling Ireland coach - Martin bought him a Specialized Shiv after his recent Leaving Cert.
“Mom had a huge part to play as well and she deserves a lot of credit,” he added.
Now looking forward to the junior road race on Saturday, he said the mood was very upbeat in the Irish camp.
“Everyone’s in high spirits. Eddie Dunbar gets in tonight and the other juniors should be here later. So they’ll be coming into a great environment and hopefully we can carry this momentum on.
“We’ve a good chance of doing well with Nicolas tomorrow in the time trial as well, and everyone has a chance of doing well, especially us. Hopefully my performance today can give us some confidence.”
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