 O’Loughlin
strikes in Navan
By Gerard Cromwell
They say it’s an ill wind that blows no good.
While the ASTI teacher’s strike may not be seen in a positive light by many,
for Carrick Cidona rider, Martin O’Loughlin it has an up-side.
O’Loughlin, who outsprinted Shane Baker of Irish
Road Club to win the Cycleways Cup in Navan today is a teacher from
Carrick-On-Suir and the teacher’s strike means he has more time to train. “That’s
probably why I’ve such good form,” he joked after a hard fought race over a
tough undulating course in County Meath. “I’ve been out picketing in the
mornings and then been on the bike for the rest of the day.”
The truth of the matter is that the 33 year old has
put in a tough winter with a very strong training group based in Carrick. “We
have a really good group at home. We trained very hard in the winter. The likes
of Ciaran Power, Brian Kenneally, Morgan Fox, Mark Scanlon all train with the
group and we have a man called Tony Ryan (Sean Kelly’s first coach) and he
makes sure we keep the speed up out training. We usually do a long spin with the
group and then have a mini race between ourselves for another twenty miles or
so, so that brings the spin up to about 85 miles or so. It’s really good
training.”
Attracting a field of over 180 riders over a
difficult, undulating course around Navan and with the inclusion the Hill of
Tara each lap it was always going to be a strong man’s race. “It was very
hard to get out of the bunch” said O’Loughlin “I was in a break of nine
early on and we never seemed to get more than thirty seconds. We couldn’t get
a proper gap.”
When former FBD Milk Ras winner Philip Cassidy of
the promoting Cycleways club bridged the gap, the lead group swelled to twenty
riders until O’Loughlin surged clear again.
“When Cassidy came up, I just went again and
Shane Baker and Fionn O’Sullivan came with me. Fionn got dropped on the hill
and myself and Shane just rode away coming in the road.” Despite numerous
attempts to jump away by Baker, O’Loughlin was too strong and on the uphill
finish had time enough to raise both arms aloft in victory.
David Peelo of Irish Road Club held off the chase
group for third and a tired O’Sullivan drew on all his reserves in the final
surge to the line for a creditable fifth behind O’Loughlin’s Carrick Cidona
teammate and last weeks winner of the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow , Eddie O’Donoghue.
RESULTS. CYCLEWAYS CUP NAVAN 72 MILES
Martin O’Loughlin (Carrick Cidona) 2’42”56
2. Shane Baker (Usher Insulations) @ 02”
3. David Peelo (Usher Insulations) @ 30”
4. Eddie O’Donoghue (Cidona) @ 50”
5. Fionn O’Sullivan (Newbridge Cutlery) st
6. Cian Lynch (GSM Racing) st
7. Philip Cassidy (Cycleways) st
8. Paul Healion (Usher Insulations) st
1st ‘B’ John McCarthy (Killarney)
Junior Race
1. Philip Duignan (4 Masters)
2. Tim Cassidy (Usher Insulations)
3. Dave Woods (Usher Insulations)
4. Tosh Lavery (Garda Motorway)
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