Ryan Mullen was best of the Irish in what was a very tough U23 road race at the World Championships in Spain (Photo: JMarc Hecquet)
By Brian Canty
In Ponferrada
Hopes may have been high going into this afternoon’s U23 road race at the World Championships in Spain that Ireland could pull another medal out of the bag, but the race would become a survival battle for the three Irish riders in the field.
And while none was able to finish in the leading group, the trio of Ryan Mullen, Conor Dunne of Jack Wilson all got around the course, with Ireland one of very few nations to finish with a full team.
Dunne and Mullen were in the bunch until the very final round of fireworks that decided the destination of the medals jumped into life.
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And while they were unable to hang on over the climbs on the last of ten 18.2km circuits, they gave a solid account of themselves.
Wilson lost contact a little earlier than his two team mates but he still finished the race; in 111th place some 11:41 down on winner Sven Erik Bystrom of Norway.
Sven Erik Bystrom of Norway celebrates winning the U23 world title after a really strong and decisive attack on the final climb of the race (Photo: Sirotti)
Mullen was best of the Irish, in 63rd place and 3:46 in arrears. Dunne was just a little further back, coming home in 72nd place some 5:11 down.
While the racing was characterised by a fast start with plenty of attacking and a number of inevitable early breakaways, the well-drilled Australian squad rode their hearts out to hunt everything down and set up their man Caleb Ewan for a sprint finish.
Going onto the last lap, the Australians were reducing in number on the front and those still there were visibly flagging.
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Kevin Ledanois of France managed to get clear in a small escape of around five riders during the second half of the penultimate lap.
And just as they were being caught, he slipped up the road on his own going down the climbs and heading back to the start-finish area. And it was he who led, by around 15 seconds, from a bunch of some 70 riders starting the final lap.
Australia's Caleb Ewan takes the group sprint for silver fr0m Kristoffer Skjerping of Norway (Photo: Sirotti)
At that stage Mullen and Dunne were still in the group, though Wilson had lost contact.
While the French man survived out front on his own for a long time, the Australians were still riding, ensuring he did not get too far.
And as soon as he hit an incline he went backwards and was recaptured, at which point Brayan Stiven Ramirez (Colombia) took off on his own.
While he held off the reduced peloton and a chase group for a time, he too struggled when the racing hit the final climbing sections and it was at that point that eventual winner Sven Erik Bystrom (Norway) jumped from the bunch.
He flew up the climb, over the top and down the other side; building a lead of over 10 seconds and enjoying a seven second lead on the line despite easing back in the final 100metres for his victory celebration.
While the Australians lost control of the race on the final half lap, their man Ewan came through to win the group sprint for silver, with another rider from Norway Kristoffer Skjerping taking bronze.
More from the Irish trio later.
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