The rest of his team may be riding the Baby Giro, but Michael O'Loughlin is going about his business; getting back into racing to pick up his season with plenty of action still to come. The Team Wiggins man was best in the Naas Open TT today, above (All photos with many thanks to Sean Rowe)

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Michael O'Loughlin Team Wiggins wins Naas Open TT

Michael O'Loughlin has continued his return to competition after a troubled first half of the season with victory in the Naas Open TT today.

The Team Wiggins man blasted around the 46.96km course in a time of 49mins 36 secs. That was 1:30 ahead of Ben Walsh of the Vitus Pro Cycling team.

In 3rd place came Seven Springs man Eoin Whelan; some 2:33 off the time of O'Loughlin.

The winner is the reigning U23 road race and TT champion. And he appears to be returning to good condition just in time for this year's championships.

Top down: McCrystal, Walsh, Whelan, Roche.

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O'Loughlin would normally be riding abroad with his Team Wiggins outfit but is easing himself back into racing after injuries.

In recent weeks he has also won the Hammond Memorial TT and took a stage win in the Orwell Two Day two weeks ago.

While those are smaller races than he would usually be riding at this time of year, they still suggest he is coming into some good condition.

Just outside the top three today was Alexis Roche; the Cote d'Armor man in 4th 2:58 off the pace of O'Loughlin.

Eve McCrystal was best of the women today; the Garda CC rider finishing 8th in the combined men's and women's event.

She was 5:28 quicker than the runner-up in the women's category; Lisa Lamont of Mellow Velo Bicycles.

With the National TT Championships taking place next Thursday week, O’Loughlin and McCrystal look on track for good performances.

McCrystal will be chasing her first national crown. She went to within 15 seconds of the course record in the Naas test - set by Anna Turvey in 2016.

And that very much indicates she is timing her form to perfection and is in great condition.

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Sat, June 16th: Naas Open TT (46.96km)

Promoted by Naas Cycling Club

1. Michael O’Loughlin Team Wiggins A+ 0:49’36.14
2. Ben Walsh Vitus Pro Cycling A+ 0:51’06.15
3. Eoin Whelan Seven Springs CC A1 0:52’09.48
4. Alexis Roche Cote D’Armor A+ 0:52’29.37
5. Mark Reilly Lucan CRC A1 0:53’13.09
6. Sean Featherstone Newry Wheelers A2 0:53.16.97
7. Conn McDunphy Holdsworth Pro A+ 0:53’27.88
8. Eve McCrystal Garda CC W 0:54’43.23
9. Eoin Byrne Scott-Orwell A2 0:55’09.27
10. Balasz Galambos Scott-Orwell A3 0:55’21.38
11. Tiit Talumaa St Tiernans CC A2 0:56’21.10
12. Sean Landers Stamullen RC A3 0:56’52.02
13. Dennis McCarthy Slipstream CC A3 0:56’56.60
14. Conor Coleman Panduit Carrick Jnr 0:57’26.86
15. John O’Rourke Dungarvan CC A4 0:58’38.51
16. Ian O’Hara Lucan CRC A3 0:58’53.01
17. Ronan Short SERC A3 0:59’24.55
18. Ciaran Steed Murphy Surveys A3 0:59’32.00
19. Lisa Lamont Mellow Velo Bicycles W 1:01’11.93
20. Claire Ni Reachtagain North Tipperary W 1:02’39.92
21. John O’Loughlin Kildare CC 1:04’23.75
22. John White Unattached A4 1:04’24.31
23. Yvonne Doran Scott-Orwell W 1:04’39.27
24. Aisling Barry Dunboyne CC W 1:05’38.79
25. Lucy O’Donnell Kanturk CC W (U16) 1:06’47.66
26. Breda Horan Scott-Orwell W 1:06’51.74
27. Lisa Stapelbroek Kenmare CC W 1:07’41.66
28. Charlotte Stevens Scott-Orwell W 1:07’52.71
29. Catherine Mahoney UCD Cycling Club W 1:09’02.99
30. Ewa Kuras Galway Bay CC W 1:11’26.35
31. Lauren Horan Team Gerry McVeigh W 1:14’38.94
32. Hannah Tilley Arcane CT W 1:18’19.31
33. Anne Marie Cooke Dublin Wheelers W 1:18’58.52
34. John McManus Slieve Gullion Paracyclist 1:28’01.00

Unplaced A2

1. Sean Featherstone Newry Wheelers

Unplaced A3

1. Balasz Galambos Scott-Orwell

Unplaced A4

1. John O’Rourke  Dungarvan CC