Ryan Mullen on his way to the kind of result in Baku that suggests his progress is showing no sign of slowing.
Absent from Ryan Mullen’s time trial ride at the European Games in Azerbaijan yesterday was the excitement that comes when a rider wins a medal at a major championships riding for Ireland.
And the 20-year-old has known that feeling; taking silver in the European Championships time trial as a junior, silver in last year’s U23 test at the World Road Championships and two bronzes at the U23 European Track Championships the year before last.
Aside from those riders, Mullen’s performance in last month’s Rás – where he was 3rd overall – was his best result in a UCI stage race.
And his victory in the U23 competition was the first classification jersey he had ever won in a UCI-ranked event.
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His scorching to the U23 time trial national title last June and winning the combined U23 and senior road race solo three days later was also a big weekend in his career.
Outside of championship racing, he was 7th in the stage 8 Tour of Britain time trial over 8.8km in London last September.
But his 8th place in Baku yesterday, against many WorldTour riders who would have trained and tapered specifically for the event, must surely rank as the best test of his career.
In his second year now at Continental level with An Post-Chainreaction, Mullen will go into the U23 test at the Worlds in the US in September as one of the hot favourites.
And if he was to win the title or even medal again, a major pro contract would surely follow for next year.
However, he has said he wants to take his career development at a manageable pace that works out well in the longer term.
Brian Nugent has watched Ryan Mullen closely on road and track in recent years and believes he can truly hold his own against top pro riders now.
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Cycling Ireland head coach Brian Nugent said yesterday’s result was confirmation that Mullen, who will not turn 21 years until later in the summer, is ready to move onwards and upwards in the sport.
“Ryan underlined his world class potential by taking another step up in the sport,” he said.
“After last year where he dominated at U23 level it was important that the progression carried on.
“That doesn’t always happen this quick but he took a big step forward today by performing the way he did in such a major event.
“Ryan’s proven now that he’s ready for this level. He was very convincing today in the way he delivered his performance.
“What Caroline achieved was inspiring too,” Nugent added of Caroline Ryan’s 15th place in the 30-rider field in the women’s test in Baku.
“It’s the first time that we have been competitive at this level in elite women’s road time trials.
“There is work to be done to move into the top 10 but she gave a good account of herself and the team to finish top 15 showing what is achievable in the future.”
Caroline Ryan is next up for Ireland in Baku. She competes in the women’s road race tomorrow, Saturday.
And on Sunday a five-strong Irish team lines out in men’s road race action.
Joining Mullen on the team are his team mates from An Post-Chainreaction Sean Downey, Conor Dunne and Jack Wilson. Eddie Dunbar of NFTO is also in the line-up, which is managed by Kurt Bogaerts of An Post-Chainreaction.
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