Irish cyclist Ryan Mullen was part of the Trek-Segafredo team in Australia putting all its efforts behind Richie Porte.
Ryan Mullen strong at Tour Down Under 2019
Ireland's Ryan Mullen has ridden strongly in his first outing of the year, the Santos Tour Down Under.
The race did not feature any TTs and Mullen was working for team leader Richie Porte, meaning his chances of a personal result were nonexistent.
However, at key junctures in the race he was there by Porte’s side, at times the last man standing in the team for the Australian.
Having signed for Trek-Segafredo last year, Porte was making his debut for the squad in Australia.
And while he came up short for the overall victory, he again won the Willunga Hill stage today.
Daryl Impey (Mitchelton Scott) ran out the winner after race leader throughout Patrick Bevin (CCC Team) crashed yesterday and was drop early today.
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Mullen finished in the bunch on the opening two stages; won by Elia Viviani (QuickStep) and Bevin respectively.
Porte pulled the trigger on Willunga to take the stage win. But he had to settle for 2nd on the final general classification, some 13 seconds down on Impey, who retained his title.
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On the third stage, Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) claimed victory from a group of 40 riders. Ryan Mullen was in a group just over four minutes back on a day when many lost over 12 minutes.
And on stage 4, when the front group numbered just 20 riders, Mullen came home halfway down the field, some 3:23 down.
Mullen was again in the bunch yesterday, in 25th place, on the penultimate stage. It was won in a sprint by Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates).
Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) crossed the line first but was relegated for overly physical riding in the finale.
And on today’s final stage, when Porte climbed Willunga Hill to victory, Ryan Mullen rounded out the race in a group 7:30 down.
Ryan Mullen looking after Porte
Mullen's final overall placing, 66th at 15:55, was meaningless in the sense he was there to help Porte. And several times in the race Porte said Mullen had ridden really strongly to position him.
In the crosswinds on stage 5 he said Koen de Kort and Mullen had been key to keeping him safe and in the front group into Strathalbyn.
Porte said that a day earlier, on the stage that featured the Corkscrew Hill climb, Mullen was the last man with him, expertly shepherding him.
“Koen De Kort put me in a great position through the gorge,” Porte explained. “Will Clarke rode really well on the front.
“And then Ryan Mullen put me in the perfect position at the bottom of the climb. Everybody did a great job, so it's a good sign."
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