Ryan Mullen (left) was quickest in the combined elite and U23 time trial last Thursday night but only got the U23 title. Yet when he won the combined road race on Sunday he won both titles. Seen here with Sean Downey, who took silver in the road race (Photo: Kevin Monaghan, homepage photo is by Toby Watson)
By Gerard Cromwell
Although Ryan Mullen was fastest in last Thursday's national time trial championships, the 19-year-old An Post Chainreaction rider was only awarded the U23 title, with the elite gold going to second-placed Michael Hutchinson (InGear).
When Mullen won the road race on Sunday, there was some confusion after the line as to whether he would take the title or whether he would only be awarded the U23 championship, with teammate Sean Downey being awarded the elite title.
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So how come Mullen, like Dan Martin when he won in 2008, was awarded both titles when he soloed to victory at the road race championship in Multyfarnham?
Former international commissaire, ex federation president and current board member of Cycling Ireland, Jack Watson explains. "I know people are confused," said the experienced Belfast man.
"Ryan Mullen did not win the elite championship on Sunday. It was the Irish senior road race championship. He is not an elite rider. Under the UCI definition, Ryan is an Under 23 but under Cycling Ireland definitions he is a senior.
"If you look at the Cycling Ireland regulations regarding the championships, Sunday was the senior championship, incorporating the U23 championship. A UCI elite rider is 23 and older or under 23 and a member of a World Tour Team.
"If we had enough U23 riders we could run a separate road race. If Sunday had just been the elite championship then the first non U23, Sean Downey, would have been declared the National Champion.
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"For the time trial championship, the number of riders does not really affect having separate U23 and elite championship races, so that is what we do.
"Australia and Britain have had problems over the years because their rules did not anticipate that an U23 rider may be first over the line. And in fact one year the first three riders were all U23 and the declared Australian Champion was actually 4th over the line.
"I know it is confusing but it is done that way to ensure that the first rider over the line is the Irish National Road Race Champion."
An Post Chain Reaction dominated the national road race championships this year with (left to right) Sean Downey (silver in the senior race), Conor Dunne (U23 bronze), Ryan Mullen (gold in both U23 and senior) and Jack Wilson, silver in the U23 race (Photo: Gary Guildea)
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