Irish National TT Championships 2019, Foyle Cycling Club | Sticky Bottle

Eddie Dunbar and Ryan Mullen are the two WorldTour riders set to take the start line in the National TT Championships on Thursday

The battle between Ryan Mullen and Eddie
Dunbar looks like the biggest clash set for the National TT Championships in
Donegal on Thursday.

They are not the only riders in the
field capable of medalling, of course, with two others – Marcus Christie and
Paul Kennedy – having already stood on the nationals’ podium.

In some of the other races – the elite
women and U23 men – the contest for the medals is perhaps more open.

However, the paracycling and junior men’s
races are much harder to read in advance of those races.

Riders in all categories will use a traditional out and back course starting and finishing near Speenoge, Co Donegal. You can view the 41.48km route by following this link.

Mullen has been national elite champion three times – last year, the previous year and in 2015.

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Indeed, Mullen has won the TT and road race at the same championship weekend twice in his career though he is still aged just 24 years.

Ryan Mullen is the testing specialist and is coming out the European Games; a test he would have specifically prepared for and where he finished 4th yesterday and Minsk.

On the basis of past form he would go
into the championships as red hot favourite. However, Eddie Dunbar is one of
the brightest prospects in world cycling at present and you could put nothing
past him.

He now as his first Grand Tour in his
legs and has come of the Giro in great condition if his ride in La Route
d'Occitanie last weekend is any guide.

Both riders are competing at the highest
level of the sport – for WorldTour teams Trek-Segafredo and Team Ineos – and it
should be fascinating to see who wins and by what margin.

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However, it is far from a foregone
conclusion to win will gold and silver. Marcus Christie (Performance SBR) has
been training in the US of late for a planned hour record attempt.

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Christie took silver last year in the nationals and he would dearly love to take a medal again and to even beat one, of both, of the big name men.

Paul Kennedy (Foran CC) took bronze last year in Sligo
behind Mullen and Christie and will take to the start line believing he can do
damage.

In the men’s U23 race Michael O’Loughlin (Team Wiggins) goes in as reigning champion and favourite.

He was 6th in the European Games TT
yesterday, arguably the best result of his career to date.

The Carrick-on-Suir man will take some
beating, but there are riders in the U23 field who will feel they can dislodge
him.

Conn McDunphy is racing in France this year with CC Nogent-Sur-Oise and is highly fancied for a medal.

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Another rider racing in France this
year, Ben Walsh (GSC Blagnac VS31) is a former junior TT champion and has been
doing well of late. He is one of the very few who might put it up to O’Loughlin.

Others who fall into that category are
Ben Walsh; last year’s junior TT champion now riding for Team Wiggins.

Xeno Young (Powerhouse Sport) is junior
Worlds and Europeans pursuit silver medal winner and it will be interesting to
see what he can do.

Alexis Roche (Côtes d'Armor Marie Morin Veranda) is also in Ireland from his French base and can make an impression.

Women's standalone preview to follow.