Michael O'Loughlin, wearing his Irish kit, with Team Wiggins at a recent training camp in Spain.
By Brian Canty
First-year U23 rider Michael O’Loughlin has expressed his excitement ahead of the 2016 season when he’ll race for UK-based Continental squad Team Wiggins.
The Carrick-on-Suir teenager has been one of the most promising talents to emerge from the home scene in recent years.
And he will get his chance to shine against some of the world’s biggest stars this year, though not for a number of months yet as he is still a full-time student in Waterford.
O’Loughlin said he’d love to ride the An Post Rás in May, while lining out for the national U23 team is also a big priority.
“For the early part of the season I’ll be based at home due to college,” he said of his early schedule.
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“I'll keep to what I'm used to and do the Munster and Leinster Sunday races.
“After that, I'm not sure what I’ll be doing but I’ll have one or two UK races in there.
“I think it’ll be important to race at home first anyway; so I can adjust to the longer distances.
“Our DS Simon Cope wants me to just take my time as a first year U23 and get used to the step up.
“A lot will depend on my college schedule and the team’s needs,” he added.
O'Loughlin will ride at home for the first part of the season. And his team has urged a 'less is more' approach until he gets used to the distances at U23 and elite level. Both moves sound right for his development.
Having met some of the team already at a recent training camp in Spain, the reigning national junior road and time-trial champion has been more than impressed with the squad, its equipment and the environment generally.
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“I didn't get to meet the guys who’ll be heading to Rio,” he said the British track riders including Bradley Wiggins.
“But if they’re as easy to get along with as the rest of the team I’m looking forward to meeting them.
“The management help the atmosphere and they’re just as easy-going as all the riders.
“I actually feel privileged to ride for them. Even without the Rio guys the team is super strong.
“So many have gone through the GB Academy and picked up World Cup and European titles along the way (on the track) and they’ve now shifted their focus to the road.
“I've learned so much already through their experiences and it's only January, so hopefully that can continue.”
While competition for places on the U23 Irish road racing team will be intense in the year ahead, it’s almost impossible to envisage a scenario where O’Loughlin is not a regular in no time.
And while stepping into an outfit that many will see as something of a glamour team given its association with Tour de France winner Wiggins, O’Loughlin is as keen as ever to get more green jerseys.
“I'd be very keen to race with the national team,” he said of making the step from the junior to U23 Irish set up.
“It's a logical step for the group of us who raced junior; to now go and race with the U23 team.
“I know we need results in order to gain qualification for other races and I think we should 100 per cent be able to get some. And I think I can play a role in that.”
Team Wiggins has been invited to the Tour of California in May but O’Loughlin is unlikely to be in contention for a place there.
However, though opens the door for perhaps a maiden An Post Rás.
“I’m looking to ride the Rás and as it’s a week or two after my exams it'd be a good start to the summer.
“After that, it's hard to say what I’ll be doing but I know I'm down for quite a few premier calendar races.
“We have a nice program with some nice stage races later in the summer so I'd like to have my name in there for those.”
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