The Trek Madone carried Ryan Mullen to TT victory in Argentina and he has sung the praises of the bikes and wheels now at his disposal with new team Trek-Segafredo.

Ryan Mullen faster bike with Trek-Segafredo

Having taken his first pro win on stage 3 of the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina on Tuesday, Ryan Mullen has been toughing it out in recent days.

He was 36th on Wednesday’s stage 4; finishing in the peloton on the 183km stage that came down to a bunch sprint.

The 23-year-old placed 113th yesterday; finishing in a group 21:45 down when the racing hit the hills.

He had romped away with the TT; beating Filippo Ganna (UAE Team Emirates) by 25 seconds over 14.4km.

It was his first international pro win in just his third race for Trek-Segafredo.

Ryan Mullen has since praised the equipment the team is using. He had said in the off season a better bike and wheels would help him gain in TTs.

All of the riders used their road bikes in the test in San Juan. Mullen was on his Trek Madone.

The wheels, saddles, stems and bars are Bontrager. The team is using the Shimano Di2 9100 time trial groupsets.

"Obviously, our bike is incredibly fast, probably faster than my previous TT bike on its own," he said.

"I know that we have some of the best equipment in the whole race and that was definitely a big motivation for me.

“We have the best bike; we have great wheels, the only thing missing was the extensions.

“Last year guys rode them, and we assumed it was the same, and we only found out two days ago we cannot even use it.

"The problem for me is I am actually a big guy. I have a big frame, and in the TT position.

“I am lucky that I am able to get very small for someone my size and hold a really good position.

“That's one of the factors that makes me good at time trials; I am able to bend my body into a shape it's not supposed to go.

“But on the road bike I have nothing to pull on like with the extensions; normally I would pull on the bars quite a lot.

"It's the first for me having to do a TT on my road bike. And I made a few modifications like a couple extra rolls of bar tape where I was resting my arms.

“And I folded my hoods in so I could hold onto something and have leverage.

Philip Deignan set for Giro

Team Sky’s Irish rider Philip Deignan has said he plans to ride the Giro d’Italia in support of Chris Froome in May.

The team leader is fighting for his reputation and his future in the sport after an adverse dope test result at the Vuelta last year.

He was twice the legal limit for asthma drug salbutamol on stage 18. Team Sky is currently preparing evidence in an effort to show the UCI there was a legitimate reason for the test result.

Deignan was interviewed, for an item on his own team’s website, and suggested the plan was still the Giro.

“I would say my goals for the year will be the Giro to go and support Froomey to go for the win there,” he said.

Now in his fourteenth season as a pro and his fifth with Team Sky, he said continuing as a domestique was his focus.

“I came (to Team Sky) as a support rider and I’ve been concentrating on that,” he said.

“(I’ve been) going to the big stage races with the big leaders to support them as best I can.

“So I’ve gathered up a lot of experience over the past four years with the team.

“But I still see myself as a support rider and that hasn’t really changed too much.”

Aqua Blue Sport Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Having been left disappointed with being overlooked for some race invites of late, Aqua Blue Sport will be on the start line of the big one; Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Dan Martin has been the main Irish interest in recent years in the race. It is widely regarded as a toughest one-day event of the year.

Martin is a former winner but this year the Irish will have skin in the game in the shape of Aqua Blue Sport.

⭐⭐ LES ÉQUIPES HOMMES SÉLECTIONNÉES POUR 2018 / TEAMS M SELECTION FOR 2018 ⭐⭐ #LBL2018 pic.twitter.com/iiwA6RtiZK

— Liège-Bastogne-Liège (@LiegeBastogneL) January 25, 2018

Matt Brammeier, Conor Dunne and Eddie Dunbar are the Irish riders in the team this year.

ASO, which also owns the Tour de France, confirmed the Liège-Bastogne-Liège wild cards yesterday.

Aqua Blue Sport have been invited along with Direct Energie and Cofidis. Also on the list are Sport Vlaanderen, Baloise and Fortuneo-Samsic.

Completing the wild card invites are WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic and Wanty-Groupe Gobert.

The race takes place on Sunday, April 22nd.