There was mixed news for Irish road and TT champion Ryan Mullen as he rode the TT stage of the Tour of Britain. He put in a solid performance but there was more significant news for him away from the racing.
Mixed news for Ryan Mullen at Tour of Britain
Ireland’s Ryan Mullen would have liked to make more of an impression in yesterday’s TT stage at the Tour of Britain. But at least it appears his current team is set to survive next year.
The national road race and TT champion was fancied in the 16.2km test in Tendring. But in the end he was forced to settle for 11th place; still a solid effort.
News would emerge though that Cannondale-Drapac has told its riders it is now in a position to honour contracts for next year.
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In the last fortnight it became clear that a sponsor the team had line-up for 2018 had fallen through. And so the US outfit told its riders they could start looking for other teams.
There was a shortfall of $7 million in the annual budget for next year after the promised sponsor backed out. But now a new financial partner, as yet unnamed, has emerged.
The Fairly Group had told Cannondale-Drapac that it would match any sum the team managed to raise in an online crowd-funding appeal.
An Post-Chainreaction man Jacob Scott on the podium yesterday as he retains his lead in the climbers' classification.
At present just over $500,000 has been raised, which would still leave a significant shortfall even if matched by others.
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But now that a new sponsor has emerged, it appears the team is no longer dependent on the Fairly Group offer to survive.
Mullen is coming to the end of a two-year contract with the team. And while his staying with the US squad is not yet confirmed, it was expected he would remain there.
News that the team seems secure for next year may give him more contract option into next season.
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Irishman finished some 25 seconds down on Tour of Britain TT winner Lars Boom (LottoNl-Jumbo) yesterday.
European TT champion, and a team mate of Boom’s; Victor Campenaerts was 2nd at 8 seconds. Vasil Kiryienka (Team Sky) rounded out the podium another second back.
The result puts Mullen 11th overall and 27 seconds behind new race leader Boom with three stages remaining.
Daniel Martin (QuickStep) was 45th yesterday at 1:23. Matt Teggart was next of the Irish in 59th and at 2:38.
And Teggart’s An Post-Chainreaction team mates Damien Shaw and Sean McKenna were 102nd and 105th at 2:47 and 2:53 respectively.
The Irish Continental-level team holds the climbers' jersey with Jacob Scott. He has infiltrated a number of breakaways so far.
Stage 5: Tendring Individual TT (16.2km)
1 Lars Boom (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:19:03
2 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:06
3 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky 0:00:07
4 Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:00:08
5 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:11
6 Tony Martin (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:12
7 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:00:17
8 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky
9 Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team 0:00:21
10 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-Scott
11 Ryan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:25
45 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:23
94 Matthew Teggart (Irl) An Post Chain Reaction 0:02:38
102 Damien Shaw (Irl) An Post Chain Reaction 0:02:47
105 Sean Mckenna (Irl) An Post Chain Reaction 0:02:53
General Classification
1 Lars Boom (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 17:57:25
2 Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:08
3 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky 0:00:09
4 Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:00:10
5 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:13
6 Tony Martin (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:14
7 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky 0:00:19
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
9 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky
10 Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar Team 0:00:23
11 Ryan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:27
37 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:01:25
59 Matthew Teggart (Irl) An Post Chain Reaction 0:02:40
94 Damien Shaw (Irl) An Post Chain Reaction 0:10:20
95 Sean Mckenna (Irl) An Post Chain Reaction 0:10:26
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