Cycling ColumnFollowing a strong showing in the Revolution track meet held a fortnight ago in the Manchester velodrome, Olympic aspirant David O'Loughlin has confirmed he will take part in the next edition of the competition.
The Mayo rider is the current Irish road-race champion but, on the basis of some encouraging performances in the past year, he has decided to change his focus and target qualification for the Beijing track races.
He and several other Olympic hopefuls recently had a significant boost when a new UCI-registered track and road team was launched.
Backed by the Galway-based Pezula company, the team will include O'Loughlin, former Navigators Insurance team-mate Ciarán Power, Paul Healion, Eugene Moriarty, Martin Irvine, Ryan Connor, William Connolly, Morgan Fox and Louise Moriarty.
It is expected these riders will form a significant part of Cycling Ireland's ongoing push to develop a strong international track presence.
The Pezula racing team had a successful first outing on October 20th at the 17th Revolution track meet.
O'Loughlin finished second in the 15-kilometre scratch race for elite men, crossing the line just behind the former world points race champion Chris Newton. He was also seventh in the 10km points race.
Healion was fifth in the 10km race and the 28-lap motor-paced scratch event. Martyn Irvine was eighth in the latter.
The next Revolution meet will take place in Manchester on November 17th. O'Loughlin and other Irish riders will be there.
The next targets will then be the track World Cups in Beijing (December 7th-9th), Los Angeles (January 18th-20th) and Ballerup, Denmark (February 15th-17th).
Some of the team's riders may also take part in the Tour de Langkawi stage race in Malaysia next February.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Sunday: Round 4 of Ulster cyclo-cross league, Island Centre, Lisburn. Underage racing starts at 11.20, main event at 1.30.
IVCA AGM, West County Hotel, Chapelizod. Starts 2.30.
Cycling Ulster AGM, Ashburn Hotel, Lurgan. Starts 1.30.
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