Michael O’Loughlin Wins U16 Kanturk 3 Day

Micheal O’Loughlin successfully defended his title at the U16 Kanturk 3 Day in Cork last weekend.  His victory in this year’s event was all the more sweet given that it is the fourth of five selection races from which the Irish cycling team will be chosen for the European Youth Olympics. 

Michael rode very impressively during the 3 stage event by winning the opening day’s stage with a brilliant solo effort to come home an unbelievable two and a half minutes ahead of the rest of the field.  This dominant victory on the first stage clearly laid down a marker that O’Loughlin was not going to give up his 2012 title easily and that a place on the Irish Cycling Team for the European Youth Olympics was now becoming a probability more than a possibility. 

The Stage 2 Individual Time Trial was another brilliant display of power and speed as the young Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers rider increased his advantage on his rivals, winning the event and further cementing his lead in that all important yellow leader’s jersey.  This excellent performance from the young Carrickbeg man left him in a fantastic position to win the event overall.

The 63km final stage went very much to plan for the yellow jersey, as even though a winning break-away trio did form without the Carrick Wheelers man, those out in front were not of great concern for the overall title and O’Loughlin was happy to leave this one go.  Michael then used his finishing speed to make sure he took 4^th place on this final stage and more importantly win the event outright. 

This victory in one of Ireland’s top under-age stage races is certainly another fantastic result for the Carrick-on-Suir teenager, and as already mentioned above, that fact that it was one of the selection races for this summer’s European Youth Olympics in Holland, makes the win all the more satisfying for the young Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers cyclist. 

 

Final Overall Standings

1^st Michael O’Loughlin – Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers

2^nd Ryan Orr – Ballymoney

3^rd Aaron Swan – TSC Racing Ballymena

4^th Dion McCarthy – Fermoy CC

5^th Simon Twomey – Cocrk County CC

6^th Cainim Muldoon – 7 Springs CC