Ryan Mullen spends day on the attack at Gent-Wevelgem
Ryan Mullen has put in another impressive ride in the colours of Cannondale-Drapac after spending much of the 246-kilometre Gent-Wevelgem up the road.
By Brian Canty
Ryan Mullen has put in a superb ride in Gent-Wevelgem this afternoon, the Irishman riding in the breakaway of nine men for much of the afternoon.
The Cannondale-Drapac rider was in the move that escaped after 30 kilometres of racing. He had already been aggressive to that point and was away almost from the drop of the flag.
When the nine-man move stuck out front their advantage quickly went out to two minutes.
Alongside Mullen were Preben Van Hecke (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Dennis van Winden (Lotto-JumboNL), Elmar Reinders (Roompot-Nederland) and Hugo Houle (Ag2r La Mondiale).
Another former An Post rider Mark McNally (Wanty Groupe Gobert) was also present. And Jay Thomson (Dimension Data), Loïc Chetout (Cofidis, Credits Solutions) and Christophe Masson (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect) completed the escape.
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It was a poignant day on a number of fronts today, not least because of where the race took place but also because it marked the one-year anniversary since Wanty Groupe Gobert rider Antoine Demoitié tragically lost his life.
After 50 kilometres the gap ballooned to almost six minutes but behind in the bunch there was plenty going on.
A huge crash took down over 10 riders and more importantly a massive split in the field caused by the pace-setting of Quick-Step Floors also occurred.
That driving by the men in blue halved the gap to the breakaway. And with just under 160 kilometres to go the lead was down to around three minutes with Mullen in there.
In the bunch, Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) was riding well in support of his teammate Peter Sagan.
And in the event of the world champion having an off day, Sam Bennett was ready to take the lead role. As it transpired, Sagan stayed clear of danger as the kilometres ticked down.
Good fun out there in the break in @GentWevelgem. Nice to have the company of @mmcnallycycling there. Hope you were proud of us @bogaertsk
— Ryan Mullen (@ryanmullen9) March 26, 2017
The gap between the peloton and Mullen's escape went back out to almost eight minutes.
But there was always the sense that when required the favourites’ teams would move to the front and chip into the lead.
And with 11 ‘bergs’ to contend with throughout the day, it would take an enormous effort from the men out front to stay there.
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With 90 kilometres to go the pace from behind really ramped up and five minutes was what Mullen’s group had at this point.
But when BMC Racing and Bora-hansgrohe took up the chase the gap simply tumbled.
Bennett was present and correct for the latter and helped with the chase. With 50 kilometres to go the gap was under a minute.
Mullen was riding out of his skin and when the catch was eventually made he slotted right onto the back of the front group and stayed there.
Or at least he did for another 30 kilometres or so, at which point BMC hammered a furious pace up the Kemmelberg.
A decisive split formed as a result with Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data), Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) and Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott) present.
Also in that great were some really big names. They included Greg Van Avermaet, Sagan, Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors), John Degenkolb (Trek Segafredo) and Nikki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors).
Mullen takes his turn at the front as the breakaway works to stay ahead of the peloton.
Among those to miss out were Lotto-Soudal, Team Sky, LottoNL, FDJ and Katusha. A further reshuffling saw five leaders go clear up front.
Kragh Andersen, Keukeleire, Sagan, Van Avermaet and Terpstra jump clear and built a lead of 14 seconds with 17 kilometres to go.
With 10 kilometres remaining there was another split and it was Van Avermaet and Keukeleire who slipped away. Sagan, Kragh Andersen and Terpstra were left behind.
The gap was never more than 20 seconds as the leading two stayed honest. And when they reached the red kite with a lead of around 25 seconds they knew it was between them for the win.
Van Avermaet showed he’s in the form of his life by leading out the gallop, though Keukeleire will have been more than happy with second.
Sagan took third just six seconds back with Sam Bennett in the group behind just catching the Sagan group on the line.
The Irishman was 17th at six seconds while Mullen crossed the line seven minutes back in 72nd.
It marks another big step in Mullen's career; spending almost the whole afternoon out front in a race of this stature.
He has already racked up 22 race days and completed all bar one of those; E3 Harelbeke on Friday. But he spent the day in the break there too.
He has also put in some really strong riding in the likes of Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta Ao Algarve as well as Kuurne Brussel Kuurne before today and last Friday.
His programme for the rest of the spring is not yet confirmed but based on his current form it’s likely he’ll get either the Tour of Flanders or Paris Roubaix, or both.
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