CYCLING: Heading into this year's FBD Milk Rás, David O'Loughlin had a somewhat chequered history in the event. Back in 2000 the then 22-year-old wore yellow for two days and ended up a fine fifth overall. The performance meant he was seen as a future winner of the race, but he then failed to finish in 2002 and 2003.
Although food poisoning and a chest infection were the two reasons for those disappointments, some Rás onlookers offered the view that O'Loughlin couldn't handle pressure. Yesterday's performance, though, fully put those suggestions to rest. At the top of Seskin Hill, one of the most famous climbs in Irish cycling, the Ireland-Thornton's Recycling rider landed a superb stage win and moved to within three seconds of the race lead.
It was an epic ride, 151 kilometres after the start in Millstreet, and 131 after he went clear in a four-man group, the Mayo rider crested the climb 19 seconds ahead of race leader Valter Bonca and his team-mate David McCann. The two Irish riders are now second and third overall, three minutes and 23 seconds behind the Slovenian. They've inched closer all week; the goal now is seize yellow on either today's tough mountain stage to Tullow or on tomorrow's short circuit race in the Phoenix Park.
Yesterday's race to Carrick-on-Suir was all about getting time back from Bonca. From the drop of the flag the Ireland-Thornton's Recycling team were on the attack, and after 20 kilometres O'Loughlin went clear with his team-mate Eugene Moriarty, plus Yorkshire-Murphy and Gunn duo John Tanner and Mark Lovatt. Moriarty lost his place up front 20 kilometres later but the other three riders persisted to eke out a maximum lead of three minutes, putting O'Loughlin firmly in yellow on the road.
As expected, Bonca's Slovenian Perutnina Ptuj team brought the gap down towards the end. Together with the Kazakhstan team they devoured the break's lead, reducing it to one minute and six seconds with 10 kilometres to go.
When Lovatt punctured it looked like curtains for the leaders, but while Tanner was caught and passed by a stomping Bonca and McCann on the steep, two kilometre rise to the line, O'Loughlin had enough left to stay clear.
"I'm delighted to win the stage today, but disappointed not to have taken the jersey," said the remarkably fresh-looking rider after the finish. "The gap between myself and the race leader is very small; I'll just have to go out there tomorrow and try again. I had a hard day up the road today but hopefully the legs will recover in time."
Today's stage takes the riders 149 kilometres to Tullow. Nine climbs await, including the category one ascents of The Heights, Corrabutt and Mount Leinster.
Bonca is riding very strongly, but with O'Loughlin and McCann plus fourth-placed Dermot Nally (Galway) poised to strike, he's got two very tough days ahead.
