Irish national road race champion Ryan Mullen, left, suggests he has a mountain to climb to emulate the big riders people sometimes compare him to (Photo: Joolze Dymond-An Post-Chainreaction)
By Brian Canty
Ryan Mullen has said he is in no rush to turn professional but if an opportunity comes along at the end of this year he would be ready to take it.
The reigning national road race champion missed out on gold in the U23 time trial and the World Road Championships last September by less than half a second.
And the man who trumped him, Australian Campbell Flakemore, subsequently signed for WorldTour team BMC Racing.
Many felt Mullen could have moved up to the paid ranks had he won gold, or even as the silver medal winner.
But he does not see it like that and will ride this year once again with An Post-Chainreaction, at Continental level in the sport's third tier.
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“I just see myself as not having achieved the goals I set out to,” the 20 year-old said diplomatically.
Mullen in action during last year’s Tour of Britain. The Irishman said it’s been his ambition to turn professional since he was 10 years-old.
“Everyone says ‘oh that was a savage ride at the Worlds’. And I say ‘no it wasn’t because I didn’t win'.
“So that’s the way I look at it. People are always congratulating me, but save that for when I win…"
While turning professional has been a goal of Mullen’s since he was a child, he cautioned he might not live up to the hype that has been building around him for some years.
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“Everyone has their own little goals and my goal is to turn pro,” he said.
“It has been like that since I was 10 years-old. I’m in no rush.
"But I’m ready at the end of this year and I’ll be ready to take the opportunity if it comes up.
Ryan Mullen, centre, said it annoys him when people call him 'the next Tony Martin' (Photo: George Doyle)
"I was only 20 in August so I’m still young. People build me up to be something I may not necessarily be.
“People say I’m the next Tony Martin. That annoys me, because Tony Martin is an incredible athlete.
"He’s won Tour de France stages on the road and in the time-trial.
“People don’t understand the difference at my level and his level, and (riders) at WorldTour level.
“From U16 to junior, or junior to u23, or Conti to WorldTour; the difference is immense and there’s no comparison.
“Those guys, what they put themselves through. A three-week Tour?
"I did the Tour of Britain and I was on my knees for about a week, they do the Tour three weeks straight.”
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