Ryan Mullen came close to riding the Tour de France. And while not risked in that race, there were hopes he might ride the Vuelta, or at least some of it. But Cannondale-Drapac has not named the double Irish road race and TT champion in its line-up.
Ryan Mullen not in Cannondale-Drapac Vuelta team
Having decided to hold back on including Ryan Mullen in the Tour de France this year Cannondale-Drapac has now taken the same attitude for the Vuelta.
The double Irish road race and TT national champion has not been included in the team’s line-up for the Spanish Grand Tour.
Mullen, who is still aged just 23 years despite his vast experience, was in real contention to ride the Tour de France.
However, the team decided to hold off on starting him in the race. And while he was disappointed, a Tour debut at 22-years-old is regarded as risky in pro cycling at present.
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Given his name was well in the mix for the Tour until the week or two before that race, the possibility he might start the Vuelta was not far-fetched.
And the team has gone with a young line-up with no shortage of Grand Tour debutants for Vuelta.
Four of the nine riders in the Cannondale-Drapac selection have never ridden a Grand Tour before. And two others are riding only the second Grand Tour of their careers.
However, all of the riders are older than Ryan Mullen, with Brendan Canty the youngest in the line-up at 25 years.
Also set to ride the Vuelta for Cannondale-Drapac are Simon Clarke, Will Clarke and Joe Dombrowski.
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They are in the team with Thomas Scully, Toms Skujins, Tom Van Asbroeck, Davide Villella and Mike Woods.
Cannondale-Drapac has described the riders it is bringing to the Vuelta as a “rookie line-up”.
“The Vuelta this year has a team time trial, one individual time trial, four stages that will most likely end in a bunch sprint, six hilly stages and nine uphill finals,” said sport director Juanma Garate.
He added the team had no protected general classification riders. Instead, it would target stage wins.
“This year’s Vuelta opens a lot of possibilities for aggressive teams and riders,” he said of the course.
“The average age in our team is 27 years. It’s probably not the youngest team at the start.
“But I think we do bring the team with the most rookies.
“Not only do we have four riders racing their first Grand Tour, but we have another two riders who have only ever done one Grand Tour in their careers.
“We want to continue with the attitude that we showed as a team during this season, specifically in the Giro and the Tour.
“Of course we don’t have high GC ambitions. But we do want to win a stage as we did in the Giro and the Tour de France.”
Cannondale Drapac
Team for Vuelta 2017
Brendan Canty (AUS) 25
Simon Clarke (AUS) 31
Will Clarke (AUS) 32
Joe Dombrowski (USA) 26
Thomas Scully (NZL) 27
Toms Skujins (LAT) 26
Tom Van Asbroeck (BEL) 27
Davide Villella (ITA) 26
Mike Woods (CAN) 30
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