O’Loughlin finally reaps reward
He took over from local star Mark Scanlon, who beat him last year but was unable to defend as he is preparing for a Tour de France debut next weekend.
David McCann, the two time national champion, was the first congratulate O'Loughlin after he had crossed the line, 47 seconds behind, to claim the silver medal ahead of Nicolas Roche whose father, Stephen, won the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and world championships back in 1987.
On a great day for the young riders in the peloton, Roche was followed home by Philip Deignan and the young Kanturk Credit Union man, Paidi O'Brien, who will both join him on the team for the European under-23 championships in Estonia in August.
But the day belonged to O'Loughlin who said this victory banished all the disappointment of the FBD Milk Rás a month earlier when, with victory in his grasp, he was overtaken by David McCann and quickly took on the role of defender on the route between Mount Leinster and the following day's finish in the Phoenix Park.
Yesterday, aided by clubmate Tommy Evans, O'Loughlin left nothing to chance. He was in the first move of the day that threatened to split the bunch and when Evans, a former national champion and Rás winner, applied the pressure that caused the damage, was perfectly placed.
Thirteen riders escaped from the field at that point with all the principals involved O'Loughlin, McCann, Nicolas Roche, the Lynch twins Denis and Daniel from Cork, their Kanturk clubmate, Paidi O'Brien, Duignan, Ciaran Power and Roger Aiken from Banbridge, who was having the race of his life.
Eventually, battered by heavy showers and a relentless headwind, this group would feel the pressure applied by Evans and when it split men like Ciaran Power were in the wrong place.
"I think they overestimated my strength and some were happy to sit on me," Evans said. "I knew I did not have the legs to win it myself so I wanted to do everything I could to help David (O'Loughlin)."
A group of four riders escaped, O'Loughlin joined by Roche, Deignan and McCann, all of whom were willing to take the initiative as the gap between them and the other stranded riders widened.
Time and time again McCann attacked in a bid to get away from a group that he could not afford to underestimate.
"I think I may have done a little too much of the driving and I paid for it in the end," he said. "David was a deserving winner today. He did all the right things and had the legs to make the move when it hurt."
That move was on the final lap over undulating terrain on the two climbs that punctuated the route.
Julie O'Hagan (All Systems Dublin Wheelers), a former triathlete who only got her Irish licence last week, was a surprise winner of the women's championships, finishing well clear of last year's runner-up, Collette Swift (Old Portlians CC) who again sprinted for the silver medal with Roisin Kennedy (Usher IRC).
This trio were prominent throughout a somewhat unusual race with all the battles fought out on the big climb and little done elsewhere.
"When you attacked they were always willing to bring you back but then they did nothing else," said O'Hagan.
And the story was the same from Colette Swift who lived in London for nine years and has now moved with her husband to France.
The decisive move came on the penultimate lap and when O'Hagan was overtaken by the breakaway group in the men's race leaving her in between them and the chasing group, the race was as good as over.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
