Big Irish hope Ryan Mullen to take first step into UCI World Cup arena in Guadalajara

Best known for his exploits against the watch on the road, Ryan Mullen makes his track World Cup debut this weekend.

One of the country’s most exciting prospects in the modern era, Ryan Mullen will make his UCI World Cup debut in Mexico this weekend when he joins decorated compatriot Caroline Ryan in battling it out against some of the world’s best track stars.

Mullen was 7^th in the U23 time trial at the World Road Championships in Florence last September, a fantastic ride considering it was his first season out of the junior ranks.

And he also picked up two bronze medals – in the pursuit and scratch race - at the U23 European Track Championships in the summer, despite spending the vast majority of his season riding on the road with UK-based pro team IG Sigma Sport.

He won the Chrono de Nations TT in France in October; taking the U23 event by a margin of 1:16 over the 43km course and during the summer bested the 4km pursuit stadium record at Sundrive Road track in south Dublin by 10 seconds.

In the off season the 19-year-old signed for the An Post-Chainreaction squad.

But before he gets his European road season underway in the green of Sean Kelly’s charges, Mullen will this weekend don the green of Ireland to ride the individual pursuit and points race.

Many have earmarked him for a rapid progression to ProTour level and as a real challenger for an U23 worlds TT medal, or even the title, this year. It will be very interesting to see how he sizes up against established elite track riders this weekend.

He rides the points race tomorrow, Friday, and his specialty 4km individual pursuit on Saturday.

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As a bronze medal winner at the World Track Championships two years ago and a winner of another bronze in the pursuit at the World Cup in Mexico last month, Caroline Ryan is well capable of adding to that tally again this weekend.

She has already qualified in the pursuit and the points race for the World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia, in six weeks time.

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Her sole event this weekend is the scratch race, which takes place tomorrow, Friday. She will be looking for a strong ride in what will be her last major outing before the all-important worlds.

Emerging Irish sprint star Eoin Mullen and scratch race World Champion Martyn Irvine are missing this World Cup.

Mullen is currently racing in Australia, working towards the Olympic qualification process for Rio in 2½ years, according to Cycling Ireland.

Irvine has relocated to Denver, Colorado, and while he is riding on the road again in 2014 for US pro squad UnitedHealthcare, he is currently preparing there for the track worlds; an event in which he not only won scratch gold last year but also pursuit silver.

He has decided to forego this weekend’s racing in favour of keeping his head down training as he battles to return to full power after a crash in the Ghent Six Day in November left him back on crutches for a period.

That setback came after a near season-long rehabilitation after breaking his femur back in March.

But between those bad crashes, the Irishman won a European Championships omnium bronze medal and took gold in the points race at the UCI World Cup in Manchester in November.

He told us recently he is confident of being in top shape for the Worlds and with his recent habit of collecting major prizes few would doubt him.