Can anyone stop Ryan Mullen claiming another gold medal at the Irish national time-trial championships in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare tonight?
By Brian Canty
Ryan Mullen is the red-hot favourite to win back-to-back elite and U23 time-trial gold medals when the Irish national championships get underway in Kilcullen this evening.
The Cannondale rider is in great shape at the moment and buoyed by a strong showing at the ZLM Toer last week he’ll go to Kildare full of confidence.
He hasn’t done many timed efforts in a race scenario this year – and none nearing the 40 kilometres he’ll do this evening.
But if he’s recovered from the crash that took him out of the ZLM Toer he’ll be hard to stop.
The out-and-back course will be to his liking as well with nothing major in the way of climbs but if he’s not on a good day there are a few who can take him down.
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A Grand Tour stage winner and former Vuelta leader, Nicolas Roche takes on the younger guns in what is set to be a fascinating battle.
Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) is a superb tester as well and though maybe not a specialist he can churn out massive power.
He is almost certain to medal, the only uncertainty is around what colour, though is very unlikely to have specifically prepared for the test in the way Mullen does for TTs.
Mullen’s housemate in Girona, Eddie Dunbar (Axeon Hagens Berman) surprised a lot of people last year with his silver medal and he will aim to go one better this time around.
A hillier course would definitely suit him better but if he can keep the power up on the downhill sections where a heavier rider would have a huge advantage he will claw back time and go very, very close to winning.
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Eileen Burns must go into the women's TT as favourite, though others in the field may have been specifically preparing for this for some time (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The forecast is for south south-westerly winds which means block headwind for the way home and anyone who doesn’t gauge the effort correctly will pay a heavy price in the latter half.
A few more names who should challenge for medals in the elite are Marcus Christie, Bryan McCrystal (both ASEA-Wheelworx) and Ian Richardson (UCD-Fitzcycles.ie) but we reckon the best they can hope for is bronze.
In the U23 race, it’s the same story with Dunbar and Mullen the hottest of favourites.
But don’t expect the flying Mark Downey (VC Toucy), Sean Hahessy (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) or Michael O’Loughlin (Team WIGGINS) to go down without an almighty battle.
The women’s race will be another cracker with Eileen Burns (Ballymena Road Club) and Eve McCrystal (ASEA-Wheelworx) the two outstanding favourites.
Dunbar on the way to the silver medal last year while riding for NFTO. What can he do this time around? (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
The latter was runner-up to Siobhán Horgan (Aquablue) 12 months ago while Burns was 5th, but has improved enormously in the interim.
There’s a field of just 12 for it, with Caroline Ryan - bronze winner last year - a notable absentee.
Judith Russell (Phoenix CC), Lydia Gurley (Aerocoach) and Lauren Creamer (Podium Ambition p/b Club La Santa) are the other big-name medal contenders.
The H1-H5 category event is the first event on the schedule, followed by the C1-C5 after which the tandem event follows.
4:01pm is the official start-time of this evening’s proceedings with Ryan Mullen last off at 7.20pm.
Here is the full start-list with start times.
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