Ryan Mullen could be a WorldTour rider within the next week if international reports prove correct (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
Ireland’s Ryan Mullen could be officially unveiled as a Cannondale-Garmin rider as early as this Saturday, August 1st, with international reports suggesting the move is likely.
The 20-year-old An Post ChainReaction rider has been tipped to join the top tier of the sport since his silver medal-winning ride at the UCI World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, last September.
It would be a superb move for Mullen, who will turn 21-years-old on August 7th.
Dan Martin currently rides for Cannondale-Garmin but his destination for next year is unclear.
Mullen’s gaining of a place in a WorldTour outfit, if confirmed, at such a young age would be a huge vote of confidence by the team in his ability.
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Last year, Garmin-SHARP joined forces with Cannondale to become Cannondale-Garmin, with many top class riders not surviving the cull and having to look for contracts elsewhere.
The 2014 season was something of a breakthrough campaign for Mullen.
He claimed national titles on the road and in the time trial as well as securing a very good sixth place in the U23 Nations Cup ZLM Tour followed by his Worlds silver medal.
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So far this season he has finished eighth in the time-trial at the European Games and third overall in the An Post Rás, as well as winning the U23 classification.
His commitment to the track for the summer months last year undermined his road form in the second half of the season and in the Tour of Britain in September he suffered through the week.
However, in a clear sign he was getting much stronger and coming into some great form ahead of the World Championships, he placed 7th in the 8.8km London time trial on the final day.
He then went on to the Worlds and put out the performance of his life in the U23 time-trial, coming to within 0.48 seconds of the gold medal.
That went to Campbell Flakemore of Australia and within days he was snapped up by another WorldTour team, BMC Racing.
Mullen said at that time he still had a lot of progress to make before joining the top tier, if offered a place.
He added he was very happy to remain at Continental level with An Post-Chainreaction for this season.
But if the building speculation proves correct, Mullen could be a WorldTour rider within a week.
