By Shane Stokes
Patrick O’Loughlin surprised himself by taking a close second on stage two of the Rás Tailteann, the 19-year-old first year senior finishing just behind the stage winner Matthew Fox.
O’Loughlin, riding with Team Ireland, was approximately half a wheel behind Fox in the 62-rider gallop into Barefield, Ennis. Teammate Odhran Doogan was fourth, with Matteo Cigala (Carlow: Dan Morrissey-Primor Pissei) splitting them.
O’Loughlin’s result was hugely encouraging for the Tipperary rider, who was the overall winner of the Junior National Road Series in 2022. He is riding his first Rás and has clearly landed on his feet.
“Basically the team had a bit of a leadout set up for Odhran [Doogan],” he told Stickybottle on Thursday. “Odhran told me, ‘right, you have free rein, surf wheels.’ Obviously he has experience at this, and this is my first time coming to a bunch sprint in the Rás. We were probably as strong as each other, but he didn't want me in the train at the same time.
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“So I was given free rein and I didn't know who to choose [to follow], because some of these English lads…I wouldn't know them, but I know they're strong.”
He got stuck in anyway, and things worked out well. “It was a real fight for position in the last K,” he explained. “Some fellas went too early which was perfect for me to surf on wheels trying to just get in the draft for as long as I could. And then when the gap opened, I finally kicked. It was all out from there to the line. But I surprised myself, so I'm happy with that.”
O’Loughlin may be in his first months in the senior ranks but his ability has been visible for some time. He took third in the junior road race nationals last year and won the UCI Junior Track International in Dublin. He was also 11th in the scratch races at the European Championships.
This year he’s had a solid opening as a senior rider, netting fourth in the Bobby Power Memorial in March and fifth on the opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in April.
Finishing second on a stage in his first Rás has put him in a determined frame of mind for the days ahead.
“This is all I needed, just a bit of confidence and legs to show myself that I can do it,” he said. “It is only up from here, hopefully!”
