OFOTO FINISH FOR O'LOUGHLIN
By Martin Ayres for Snowdon Sports Editorial

Top honours in the Archer International GP again went abroad as Ireland's David O'Loughlin took the Chilterns event, beating world points champion Chris Newton into second spot.

IN-FORM David O'Loughlin (Ofoto-Lombardi) sprinted to his fourth win of the season in Sunday's Archer International Grand Prix in Buckinghamshire. The Irishman finished a bike length clear of Chris Newton (Corima RT) and John Tanner (Life Repair CRT) in a three-up sprint at the climax of the the 118-mile classic.

The trio had broken away from a 16-man lead group with just nine miles to go. They were chased all the way to the finish by Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello RT) and Mark Lovatt (Life Repair CRT). Ex-Vuelta and Tour de France rider Elliott, one of the strongmen of the race despite a six-year absence from the sport, outsprinted Lovatt for fourth spot at 27 seconds.

But it was O'Loughlin who took the top prize of £650 and the 15 UCI points awarded for victory in this 1.5-ranked event. The 24 year old, who rides for an American pro team, has been enjoying a purple patch in domestic events recently. However, Sunday's race - with a 100-plus field drawn from 12 nations - was a step up in class.

Making his debut in the Archer RC promotion, O'Loughlin was up against two past winners in the winning break: Newton who triumphed in 1995; and Tanner, the victor two years later.

O'Loughlin, a self-confessed non-sprinter, looked to be the outsider of the trio. But the man from the west of Ireland had been working on his weakness during the winter and his preparation paid off in the uphill finish at Winchmore Hill.

Describing the finish, O'Loughlin said: "Chris [Newton] went to the front with about a mile to go. I actually played it clever for once - I stayed at the back. There was a bit of the usual playing about, I kicked twice and kicked again at the end and that was it. It's been a good day."

NO COMPLAINTS

World points champion Newton had no complaints, explaining: "I've been concentrating on shorter distances to qualify for the track Worlds. I was missing turns at the end while the other two were working hard."

A total of 102 riders signed on at the start in Hazlemere. Missing this year was New Zealander Gordon McCauley, winner of the last two editions. The early action followed a familiar pattern, Mark Lovatt attacking in the first mile. "I was hoping a big break would develop, it usually does in this event," he explained.
Lovatt was destined to spend the entire race at the head of affairs but the big break didn't materialise until the closing stages.

In the meantime, Lovatt dropped his early breakaway partner Jeff Capper (Sigma Sport) on the first climb. A few miles later Lovatt was joined by Belgian Karl Verreudt (Hand in Hand) and New Zealander Jaaren Poad (Team Down Under).

After completing the first of three laps of a hilly 20-mile circuit based on Great Missenden and Wendover, the break was strengthened by the arrival of lone chaser Tom Southam (Great Britain).

The little group stayed clear for 60 miles. Then, as their lead shrunk to 24 seconds, Lovatt attacked. Poad stayed with him, while Verreudt and Southam were dropped and absorbed by the chasers.

Lovatt and Poad were finally caught at the 80-mile point just as the route switched on to a five-mile finishing circuit. A new lead group formed around Lovatt, including Danny Axford (Parrot Print), Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT), Lee Vertongen (Team Endurasport), George Richardson (Cycle OpsKona RT) and Russell Anderson (Great Britain).

Then O'Loughlin, Tanner, Elliott and Huw Pritchard (Wales) raced across the 1-22 gap to the leaders and it was clear this was the decisive move of the race.

The small circuit lacked a major climb, but the drag along the A404, followed by short ascents through the lanes to Penn Street took their toll on the riders, who now had over 100 miles in their legs.

BREAKAWAY BUNCH

The lead group of a dozen-or-so riders was in danger of being stopped when an ambulance blocked the main road, causing a back-up of oncoming traffic. The medics were tending Belgian rider Joeri Learts, who had crashed and reportedly suffered a broken collarbone and concussion. The road was blocked for two laps but quick work by the motorcycle marshals cleared a path for the race.

By now the many spectators who had been scattered around the course converged on Penn Street with its pub and village green, which took on a continental ambience as the race - now split into three main groups - roared through every 10 minutes.

The breakaway was reduced to seven men when O'Loughlin and Tanner attacked, got clear and were then chased down. But there was still some life left in the chasers and, with 107 miles covered, a nine-man group driven by Gethin Butler (Preston Wheelers) moved across to join the seven leaders.

They didn't stay together for long. Tanner, anxious to get rid of the sprinters, attacked as
the race switched on to the A404. Newton and O'Loughlin chased and caught him. There were still nine miles to go, but the leading trio was destined to stay away to the finish. Elliott and Lovatt also escaped and clinched fourth and fifth places. Twenty seconds later Pritchard won the sprint for sixth from Dawson, Richardson, Matt Stephens (Sigma Sport) and Dan Lloyd (Team Endurasport).

Of the 102 who signed on for the race, only 53 made it to the finish, led by O'Loughlin who averaged 24.81mph for the 118 miles.

DUCKING AND DIVING

SECOND-PLACED Chris Newton confessed: "I had to duck and dive early on to try and save myself." World Cup track racing has been Newton's priority in recent weeks, but he still had sufficient class to finish a close second on Sunday. Now he is looking forward to some serious stage racing.
"I'll be getting some miles in my legs and consolidating my fitness ready for the Girvan at Easter and the FBD Milk Ras at the end of May," he added.

RESULTS

David O'Loughlin (Ireland, Ofoto-Lombardi Sports) 118m in 4-45-20
2, C. Newton (Corima RT)
3, J. Tanner (Life Repair CRT) both st
4, M. Elliott (Pinarello RT) at 27sec
5, M. Lovatt (Life Repair CRT) at 28sec
6, H. Pritchard (Wales) at 48sec
7, K. Dawson (Life Repair CRT)
8, G. Richardson (Cycle Ops-Kona RT)
9, M. Stephens (Sigma Sport) all st
10, D. Lloyd (Team Endurasport) at 49sec
11, G. Butler (Preston Wh) st
12, R. Morgan (Parrot Print-Tal) at 51sec
13, L. Vertongen (Team Endurasport) at 1-26
14, T Barras (Team Down Under) at 2-18
15, R. Anderson (Great Britain) at 2-19
16. P Crook (Angliasport) at 2-20
17, G. Dodd (Sigma Sport)
18, G. Briggs (Life Repair CRT) both st
19, C. Roshier (Team Quest) at 2-21
20, J. Winn (Team Eakta) at 2 -24.