Among the first crop of young talent to come through the start-up years of the youth FBD Talent Team 2020 concept, Michael O'Loughlin is now readying himself for the world stage in Spain.
By Brian Canty
In Ponderadda
First year junior Michael O’Loughlin has said he was inspired watching Ryan Mullen claim a silver medal in the men’s U23 time-trial at the World Championships this afternoon and is keen to do the very best he can in what will be the biggest race of his life.
The Carrick youngster, of the Standard Life Nicolas Roche Performance Team, will also ride in Saturday’s road race as part of the five-man line-up. But for now he is only focussed on doing a good ride in the junior test tomorrow, Tuesday.
“I’m feeling good, all we’ve been doing is resting up since we got here,” he said from inside the Irish camp.
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“I’m looking forward to it, all season you’re hoping to make the team and now I’m here and I’m ready to go,” he said.
“After watching Ryan today I just want to get out there. It was unreal, every time check he got we were getting more and more excited.
"We were disappointed, it was so close to gold. Ryan wishes he was on the top step but he got a great result and he has inspired us now to go out and give it our all tomorrow.”
In action against the watch at the European Championships in the summer. O'Loughlin says the Worlds is another step up in that he will be racing against nations he has never faced before.
O’Loughlin will roll down the start ramp at 10am Irish time, Mark Downey goes slightly earlier at 9.33am, and the former is looking to really lay down a marker on a course he says he is fond of.
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“We’ve done a few laps and I really like it,” said the Worlds debutant.
“It’s not too technical, there’s a lot of long straights so you get a chance to put out the power. And there’s a hard climb there as well with 3k to go where it’ll be the final place to make up any time lost.
“Hopefully I can put out the power on the flat and make up some time on the other riders before we hit the climb. If I can be there or thereabouts and put in a good ride up the climb I’ll be happy.”
O'Loughlin gained selection for both the junior road race and time trial in Spain with rides like (above) winning the final stage and overall at the Wexford Two Day against the elite riders (Photo: Sean Rowe)
He was 24th in the Europeans so should be capable of a similar result, assuming he’s improved since then.
“I was pretty happy with that,” he said of his ride in Switzerland.
“When I look back maybe I should have made the top 20. But there’s a few more nations here that I’ve never raced against, so I think I’ll be happy with a top 30 tomorrow.
“I love wearing the green,” he continued.
“I’ve had a few opportunities to wear it this year and hopefully I’ll have a few more in the future too. We’ve been so well looked after, we’ve just had to worry about cycling and that’s another thing that drives us on to do well.”
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