Niall McLoughlin emerged as one of the best junior riders in Ireland last year and followed up that season with a first senior Irish title victory on the track in 2023. And now the 18-year-old is set for more exposure to European racing next season after signing for a French team.
McLoughlin, who has competed for Westport Covey Wheelers in recent years, opened his 2023 campaign with a win in the Phoenix GP back in March. And while the Leaving Cert occupied a chunk of his time in the months that followed, he came back strong with 3rd place in the Brian McNamara Memorial in July, which was part of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series.
The following month, McLoughlin stepped up to take a brilliant win in the elite scratch race at the National Track Championships in Dublin, taking the Irish title, topping a heavy-hitter podium that also included Harvey Barnes (East Tyrone CC) and Conn McDunphy (Lucan CRC). And now the teenager will competed in France on the road next year, mixing road with track.
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McLoughlin is following Olympian Mark Downey and top road riders Matthew Teggart, John Buller and Philip Lavery to Amicale Cycliste Bisontine. Securing a place at the team will ensure he gets a taste of challenging elite road racing in France next year, though he is also expected to targeted development as a track rider at home and abroad.
As a junior, McLoughlin made the Irish team for Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, winning a stage in the race and placing 2nd in two other stages. He was also 2nd in the junior road race at the National Road Championships to Oisin Ferrity (Island Wheelers) and also made the Irish team for the European Road Championships.
We'll have an interview with McLoughlin in coming days.
