On the third stage in France Michael O'Loughlin of Team Wiggins was forced to abandon. He is the reigning Irish U23 road and TT champion; winning both titles in Wexford last June, above.
Double U23 Irish champion, and a man who posted some great performances last year, Michael O'Loughlin has been forced out of the Tour of Bretagne.
He completed the first two stages but climbed of yesterday on the 181km road from Baden to Clohars-Carnoët.
O'Loughlin (21), Team Wiggins, had a delayed start to the season due to illness. Furthermore, last Monday he was involved in a crash out training.
The Carrick-on-Suir man, who won the U23 road and TT titles at the national road championships last year, was knocked off by a motorist.
He was training in Girona, Spain, at the time. A motorist pulled out of a driveway, hitting O’Loughlin as he was riding past.
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An ambulance was summoned to the scene and O’Loughlin was given treatment.
Despite the spill he decided to start the Tour de Bretagne (2.2) on Wednesday. And he got through the two opening stages in the bunch.
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The cold and wet stage saw Hurl emerge best of the winning breakaway yesterday.
However, the lingering after-effects of the crash took their toll on him yesterday during what was a harder stage, in wet conditions.
As a result of having difficultly even riding out of the saddle, Michael O’Loughlin was forced out.
It was an unfortunate blow. But with many months remaining in the season he will have plenty of opportunities to make up for lost time.
The only other Irish rider in the French stage race is O’Loughlin’s fellow Team Wiggins rider Matt Teggart (22).
He was 55th yesterday; finishing in a group exactly one minute down on a day when the field was scattered over 20 minutes.
The stage was won by French rider Tony Hurl (30), formerly of the Direct Energie pro team. Now riding for Sejanus Espoirs ACNC, he claimed victory in a sprint from a nine-man group.
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