By Brian Canty
In Ponferrada
Ryan Mullen has said he “emptied” himself in pursuit of the gold medal in the U23 time trial at the World Championships in Ponferrada this afternoon, but was remaining upbeat despite being beaten into silver by just 48 hundredths of a second.
The 20-year-old An Post-Chainreaction rider was leader by a whopping 19 seconds when he finished the course after he overtook long-time leader Rafael Reis of Portugal.
But Australian Campbell Flakemore – the third last rider off - pipped the Irishman to demote him to second.
“I thought I might hang on but I emptied myself, I took as many risks as I could,” said Mullen.
“At the end of the day the better guy one. It’s pretty disappointing to come so close to getting a world title. I’ve been coming the last few years and progressed slowly and I progressed enough this year to challenge for a title.
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“But I’m pretty happy to get this. We’ve all worked hard in Cycling Ireland. They’ve done everything possible to get me in this shape and I’m really grateful for their help.
“I gave it everything out there,” he continued.
“I can’t think of anywhere where I could have pushed harder without jeopardising my overall placing. The best guy won; it’s hugely disappointing to come so close but I got second place and I’m happy and proud of that.
“To be up there with the likes of Stefan (Kung of Switzerland in third) and Campbell; I’m pretty happy with my result and hopefully there’s more to come.”
Mullen started like a bat out of hell and at the first time-check at 12.2 kilometres he was the only rider to go under 14 minutes and over 53kph as an average speed.
“Brian (Nugent, Cycling Ireland high performance director) told me I was up but I just stuck to what I knew I could do. I didn’t start fast, I didn’t start slow, I just knew what I was supposed to hold and I held that. I did what I was supposed to do.
“The roads in Spain are always slippery so I didn’t take any risks. Towards the end I was pushing in places I shouldn’t have pushed but it’s the World Championships, you have to take some risks.
“Coming down the descent near the end I was really, really cautious. But the last two kilometres were pan flat so I just emptied it there, I couldn’t give any more.
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“When I crossed the line I looked up at the board and saw I was first and was pretty happy. But I only realised when I sat down in the hot seat and saw the splits on the screen how far up I was.
“At the bottom of the climb (towards the finish) Campbell was 15 seconds down on me… obviously I didn’t ride the climb too well because he pulled it back. But he was stronger on the day.”
Asked if he’d have taken silver this morning, he said it was “a hard question” to answer.
“If there was 30 seconds between us, then yes. Half a second is a bit harder to swallow. But I’m happy with the result, I can’t grumble, I’m only 20.
“I’m definitely in the shape of my life. I rode the Tour of Britain, for example, and compared to last year I’m a completely different rider.
“I’ve progressed so much with the programme Kurt Bogaerts has given me so hopefully next year when I’m a year stronger I can do get better.”
For now, he will remain at An Post-Chainreaction for next season, though offers from other squads may well arrive, especially after today’s career-best world class ride.
“I’m very happy where I am at An Post Chainreaction,” he said of the Continental ranked squad he joined from UK outfit IG Sigma Sport last year.
“They give me a really good set-up and they understand my track commitments, so it’s a good programme. And they’re flexible with what I want to do. They’re selective as well with putting me into races that suit the kind of rider I am.
“I think, at the moment, if a pro contract came along it’d be nice. But I think I’m still too young. I’m not physically or mentally ready to move up to that.
“It’d be nice to be offered and I’d certainly consider it but I think maybe another year at Continental level to develop myself as a rider and try to get results will help me to move on in the world.
“I know full well that the step up from last year to this year has been massive, and I’m still only at a Continental team. I’m being logical about it.
“I’ve ridden the races with the big guys and they’re at a different level. I don’t know, if there was an offer on the table I’d certainly consider it and weigh up my options. But at the moment I’m pretty happy where I am."
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