Ryan Mullen is in with a chance of bronze at the U23 European Track Championships in Portugal
Fresh from breaking the 4km individual pursuit stadium record on Sundrive Road velodrome, Dublin, on Saturday by 10 seconds, Ireland’s Ryan Mullen has put in a storming ride in the same event at the U23 European Track Championships this afternoon.
The 18-year-old was third quickest in the qualifying rounds on the opening day of the championships in Anadia,Portugal.
It means he now goes head-to-head later in the day with the 4th placed rider Julien Morice of France; with the fastest in the duel to collect the bronze medal.
The two fastest riders in today’s qualifiers will ride off later for the gold and silver medals.
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Stefan Kung of Switzerland was fastest in the qualifiers by a long way; clocking 4:20.073, a massive 3.738secs quicker than the man he now faces in the final, Alexander Evtushenko of Russia.
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Mullen - posting 4:24.559 - was seven tenths of a second slower than the Russian in qualifying . However, he had nearly three tenths of a second to spare over Morice and so goes into the bronze medal ride off as favourite based on those times already posted today. There were 25 riders in today's qualifiers.
Collecting a bronze medal later would be a fantastic ride by Mullen, who has already repeatedly proven he is world class, taking silver last year at the Junior European TT Championships and finishing 9th in the Junior World TT Championships.
He is a first year U23 rider and is currently riding with the IG Sigma Sport team, a UCI Continental ranked team based in the UK but also riding internationally.
Speaking after the qualifying round, Cycling Ireland high rerformance coach Brian Nugent said: “This is Ryan’s first international indoor 4km pursuit at senior level. We knew he was going well, didn’t know exactly how well, so we’re really pleased with this performance. He is the fastest first year U23 in the competition, having beaten last year’s Junior World Champion. We’re really happy with Ryan’s progression, and all sights are set on this bronze medal tonight.”
Mullen races again at approximately 6.40pm Irish time.
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