O'Loughlin gets Irish campaign underway

Double Irish road race champion David O'Loughlin will begin Ireland's world cycling championship campaign on Thursday afternoon when he lines out in the Elite men's time trial on the Caso de Capo course in Madrid. The Mayo rider will compete against some of the world's top professional riders in the tough 44.1 kilometre test and is hoping for a decent ride.

"David has been in very good form lately and has worked hard for this," said Grant Thornton Team Ireland manager Martin O'Loughlin on Wednesday. "He has ridden the course several times and will be trying to go as well as possible. I think a top twenty or even a top fifteen place is possible, if all goes well for him."