O’Loughlin hopeful of Rás route to Athens

DAVID O’LOUGHLIN aims to enhance his prospects of making the Irish Olympic cycling team with a podium finish in next week’s FBD Milk Rás.

There are 25 UCI points available to the race winner, and O’Loughlin aims to build on his big wins in the Shay Elliott Memorial and a first ever Irish win in the Lincoln Grand Prix.

But Rás Director Dermot Dignam admits that O’Loughlin and his fellow competitors will face a tough assignment this year.