Michael O'Loughlin says it will be crucial to get a bottle ever half lap in the U23 road race and is hoping to get a result from the race, even though the flatter course would normally favour nations with sprinters (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Michael O’Loughlin described the conditions in Doha as easily the hottest temperatures he has ever raced in, saying “nothing has come close to it”.
The first-year U23 rider has had an excellent season and there was no pressure on him yesterday’s race against the clock, aside from the self-imposed.
But he would have liked to have given a truer representation of what he can do.
Having finished eighth in the time-trial as a first-year junior at the world champs in Spain two years ago he proved he can churn out big power on the big stage.
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But when the mercury rose to 36 degrees yesterday it became nearly impossible.
He may be a first-year U23 but O'Loughlin is well capable of a result in the road race on Thursday in Doha. It's just over 100 miles and in the heat it should split to pieces, a scenario that should suit the Irishman (Photo with thanks to Anne-Sophie Salaun)
“I wasn’t looking for a result because based on the Euros I knew I wouldn’t be up there with the big boys,” he said.
“It was more so getting the process of being able to prepare for a World Champs right and going through the emotions there.
“I experienced the heat and saw how my body reacted so I now know what I need to do beforehand (in the future) to get ready.
“It was like I had no power in the legs, breathing was difficult and you couldn’t put the power down.
"My legs weren’t even that sore because my watts were just so low compared to what I was doing before.”
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Looking shattered after the National Road Race Championships in June having taken U23 gold and bronze in the elite. Only WorldTour men Nicolas Roche of Team Sky and Matt Brammeier of Dimension Data beat him (Photo: Niall O'Connor)
Last year in Richmond he suffered cruel misfortune when his bike malfunctioned and he couldn’t ride in the big ring.
And from an early stage yesterday he also knew it would be an uphill battle from the word go.
“It was definitely the hottest I’ve raced in, nothing has come close to it," he said, placing the conditions in the context of many hot days he has experienced racing abroad.
“I definitely haven’t raced over 35 degrees and yesterday was 36 throughout.”
It means Thursday’s road race will be just as difficult to handle – but at least he has some forewarning.
His TT ride was average compared to what he's capable of; but there is another big chance just around the corner (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“There’ll be two feed stations per lap so every half lap it looks like we’ll be aiming to get a bottle and I think the UCI will allow us feed from first (13.7k) until last lap.”
As for the race itself, O’Loughlin has a great ability to sniff out moves and he’s done it already in a green jersey this year at the Tour of Flanders Nations Cup.
“Hopefully we can be active and play some part in the race, whether early on or in the middle.
“I just want to be there in the end or if I don’t feel well I’ll be there for the others. I don’t think any of us are true and true sprinters; we’re just strong riders.
“The others won’t be looking at us to ride so we could slip off (the front). Hopefully I can get something out of it.”
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