Michael O’Loughlin drives the breakaway during the men's U23 road race at the UCI World Championships in Doha in October. The young Carrick man had a brilliant season, stayed free of illness and injury, learnt a load and took some major scalps.
By Brian Canty
Michael O’Loughlin is one of the country’s most exciting talents and delivered some memorable performances in what was something of a breakout season in 2016.
The first-year espoir won gold in the U23 road race championships – and was third across the line that day in Kilcullen behind Nicolas Roche and Matt Brammeier.
He rode in the breakaway at an U23 Nations Cup event and capped the year by another top ride at the UCI World Championships in Doha.
He will ride for Team Wiggins in 2017 once again and though his programme is yet unclear it’s likely to follow a similar pattern to this year.
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“The team has made some big changes (to its’ programme) as the Olympic year has passed and now the focus is even more focused on U23 riders than before.
“That was already a great set-up. The team have signed a French and Italian rider now so I'm not the only non-British rider on the team,” he said.
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There were many standout days for him, but he pinpoints the Tour of Yorkshire in April/May as one day he won’t forget.
“Yorkshire was surreal. The crowds were phenomenal but also just (to see) how good the WorldTour riders are.
“I had a very tough weekend but I came out of it on a high. I was still a college student the week before it so it marked my first race as a full-time rider.
“The national championships were another high just because I had a great day. As a rider you wish you felt great every time you rode a bike but the reality is that is not true.
“So when you get a chance you have to take it. I'd also put my performance at Gent Wevelgem (U23) in there too, simply for the fact it was my first U23 UCI race.
“Standing on the start-line knowing I had 185 kilometres of racing ahead of me, compared to 130; it was scary but exciting.”
O’Loughlin will know his schedule after his first team training camp in February but he knows a big priority will be implementing the lessons he learnt in 2016.
“My number one goal (this year) was just to learn as much as I possibly could at every race so that it would help my development.
“Also facing lots of different scenarios in races was great; some days I made the early break, some days I was on total domestique duty and then times when you get to race for yourself.”
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