Ryan Mullen takes climbers’ jersey after breakaway ride on WorldTour

*Ryan Mullen in full beast mode off the front alone in China where he enjoyed a very productive day on the attack though he was eventually caught*

Best known for his big powerful engine on the flat and especially against the watch, Ryan Mullen has added a new jersey to his collection; that of leading climber.

The Trek-Segafredo rider is in China for the final WorldTour
race of the season, Tour of Guangxi (2.UWT).

And while stage 1 honours today came down to an
anticipated bunch sprint, the Irish TT champion went on the attack.

While in the day’s breakaway he took the first of two
categorised climbs and so secured the climbers’ jersey.

He leads the competition, and will wear the jersey
tomorrow, though he is equal on points with Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Gobert).

Mullen went clear just after the start
in a three-man group with Josef Černy (CCC Team) and Mikkel Honoré
(Deceuninck-QuickStep).

The Irish rider took a maximum three points on the first climb of the day after 74km.

*Ryan Mullen on the podium in the climbers' jersey after a day in the attack in China*

*Gaviria, far left, takes the stage win and the first leader's jersey of the race*

However, as the stage starting and finishing in Beihai was a flat and short one, at just 135.6km, the breakaway men
were never given too much leeway.

Their lead was allowed to grow quickly in the early part
of the stage but before it got to three minutes the chase began behind.

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UAE Team Emirates and Bora-hansgrohe were the most active
on the front of the bunch and their efforts constantly chipped away at the
advantage enjoyed by the three leaders.

As the gap tumbled, Irish TT champion Mullen took matters
into his own hands up the road; attacking the duo he was with almost 50km still
to race.

He ploughed on alone for almost 20km, taking the second intermediate
sprint and most aggressive rider award for the stage.

However, he was recaptured with just under 30km remaining
and before the second climb of the day was contested, which was won by Martin.

Despite further attacks the stage came down to a bunch sprint,
won by Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) from Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe)
and Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott).

Mullen finished in the bunch, in 76th place, but secured
a jersey and combativity award along with a trip to the podium.

It was an impressive opening effort in China from the 25-year-old, especially since the second part of his season was disrupted by a knee injury.

Because he took some time bonuses while out front, Mullen is also 6th overall, just six seconds behind race leader Gaviria.