Dan Martin's quest for a big finish to the season, just like last year, commences in Italy with the support of new team mate Ryan Mullen (Photo: Sirotti)
The European pro season may be drawing to a close but Ireland's Ryan Mullen and Dan Martin will ride on the same team together for the first time at Milan-Turin on Thursday.
While Martin is on the way out of Cannondale-Garmin having signed in recent weeks for Etixx-QuickStep, Mullen is at the start of his career with the US-based WorldTour team.
He has already made his debut for the squad he joined as a stagiaire from the beginning of August, riding well in the Tour of Britain in early September.
Since then he has travelled across the Atlantic for the World Championships, where he was 11th in the U23 TT.
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He should get a good introduction to life at the top of the sport in the 186km 1.HC-ranked semi classic in Italy.
Mullen is leaving behind An Post Chainreaction, above, for what will hopefully be a successful couple of seasons with Cannondale-Garmin (Photo: Joolze Dymond-An Post Chainreaction)
Martin is returning from a lay-off following his crash at the Vuelta, which forced him out of the race with a separated shoulder.
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He did not ride the Worlds; a combination of a course he felt did not suit him and his injuries from Spain last month working against him.
However, he will use Milan-Turin as a tune up for the Tour of Lombardy on Sunday, which he won last year.
The riders will negotiate a series of small climbs just before they pass through Asti with around 60km remaining on the way to Turin.
After that, the next real climbing test comes at the short sharp ascent of Colle di Superga as the finish nears.
And while it is just over half a kilometre, it comes 16km from the finish when the racing is going forward and the big names often look to make the decisive moves in the hunt for victory.
With the previous winner’s list including Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) – whose win in 2012 was his first ever one-day victory – it is a final that could suit an on song Martin.
Little will be expected of Mullen, with the 21-year-old needing time to get used to the rigours of racing regularly at this level before any real pressure is applied on him by the team.
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