CYCLING O'Loughlin Produces Quality Performance in Moscow

Ireland's top time trial cyclist finishes 8th in Men's Individual Pursuit World Cup

December 15, 2006

Elite national time trial champion David O'Loughlin finished 8th in the Individual Pursuit World Cup event in Moscow today (December 15). Taking on many of the world's top pursuit riders O'Loughlin (27), from Cong, Co. Mayo, is delighted with the high finish which is a major boost to his qualification hopes for the 2007 World Championships in Palma, Mallorca, in April 2007.

The first phase of the 4,000 metre pursuit saw 22 riders time trail to determine the competitors in the final and third place races. O'Loughlin registered a time of 4 minutes, 32.206 seconds, at an average speed of 52.901 km per hour. That was just 5 seconds off a final four spot. It was also his first outing on his new Carbon Terry Dolan Track bike.

David O'Loughlin: "I am very happy with that result. It confirms that I can compete at the very top level on the track. I'm not in peak shape and I am only a couple of seconds from the top four. Cycling Ireland has put in place a new system that has targeted the velodrome and that has given my career a new focus. Now I am really looking forward to 2007."

Frank Campbell was appointed Performance Director of Cycling Ireland in October 2006. He said "David has exceeded our expectations in Moscow. Clearly he has great talent on the track. We can build on what he has achieved in 2006, including today's qualifying points for the World Championships, with a training and competition programme in 2007".

The World Cup is the elite series of four track events each year. The Moscow event (December 15 to 17) is the second of the season (Sydney, Moscow, Los Angeles (Jan 07), Manchester (Feb 07)) which reaches its climax in Mallorca in April. The Irish team in Moscow is led by Cycling Ireland's Brian Nugent, Head of Track Coaching, and includes a Moscow based mechanic from David's US Pro team, Navigator.

David's road pedigree is very impressive being twice Irish elite road champion. He stunned the world of international track cycling by breaking the long standing Irish record for the 4,000 metres pursuit with an incredible 4 minutes 29.9 seconds on his first ever track session in Newport in early October. He followed up with his defeat of reigning Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France yellow jersey holder David Millar and former World Champion, Australian Bradley Magee, in the recent revolution meeting in Manchester.
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Frank Campbell: "We have a number of quality cyclists who have the potential to produce top quality performances on the track. I have put in place a programme for the next couple of years, with the support of the Irish Sports Council, that will give Ireland a presence in the track disciplines.

David is the trailblazer leading the first official Irish team at a World Cup event, and I am optimistic, with the talent in the sport, we can get an Irish team to the World Championships next year."

Rob Hayles from the UK had the fastest qualifying time in the event at 4:23:032. Further information on the event is available at www.tissotiming.com.

For further information please contact Mr. Frank Campbell, Cycling Ireland on 00353 86 8333897