David O'Loughlin

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David O'Loughlin (born April 29, 1978 in Mayo, Ireland) is a professional cyclist. He is currently a member of the Irish Pezula Racing team. O'Loughlin has been a member of the Ireland National Cycling team for numerous events including the World Cycling Championships. O'Loughlin turned professional in 2002 with the Ofoto-Lombardi Sports team where he stayed for two seasons. At the end of 2003, he considered giving up cycling and aimed to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games. There was tough competition for the place in Ireland’s Olympic cycling team and in the end, O’Loughlin demonstrated great form by winning Ireland’s main classic, the Shay Elliot Memorial race^[1] and then winning stage 6 of the Ras Tailteann.^[2] O’Loughlin came very close to winning the Ras stage race but in the end played the role of a perfect teammate to David McCann. O’Loughlin finished third overall. Then in June of that year, O'Loughlin became the elite road race champion of Ireland.^[3]

In 2005 he joined fellow Irish professional Ciaran Power in the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team. He performed strongly in one of his first races with the team by finishing second in the King of the Mountains classification in the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. Later in the year, he defended his Irish road race champion title.

In 2006, he was unable to defend his Irish champion jersey but won the Irish time trial and after starting track riding he broke the long standing 4km pursuit Irish record. In 2007, he won back the Irish Champion jersey. On October 19, 2007, it was announced that O'Loughlin had signed with a new Irish cycling team called Pezula cycling team.^[4]

In February 2008, he made history by becoming the first Irish cyclist to make a world cup medal ride off when he posted the 4th fastest time in the Men's Individual pursuit qualifying session in the Cophenagen round of the track world cup. However in the bronza medal ride off, he lost to Luke Roberts.^[5]