Ryan Mullen
finishes TT with Silver Medal at the World Championships in Spain
Ryan Mullen has won a silver medal in the Men’s U23 Time Trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain today. In extremely wet conditions the Irish man took control of the race from the start, posting the fastest time at each time check along the route. With three riders to go, it looked like Ireland would secure the gold, until a fast finishing Campbell Flakemore (Aus) narrowly pipped Mullen, to take the World Title. Flakemore took gold, Mullen silver, and Stefan Keung (SUI) won the bronze medal. Earlier today Josie Knight crashed in the Junior Women’s Time Trial, finishing in 37th position. The Championships run from Sunday 21st September until Sunday the 28th September.
Last year in this event Mullen finished in 7th place, in his debut on the senior scene, and has gone from strength to strength, by becoming the 2014 Irish National Champion in both the Road and Time Trial, and finishing 4th in the Track World Championships earlier this year. After competing so strongly throughout the 36.15km time trial today, he had mixed emotions at the finish, as a mere 0.48 of a second stood between him and the World Title, resulting in Ireland’s first U23 Road World Championship medal.
Speaking after the race Mullen said “I’m happy with the result, but bitterly disappointed to have come so close. I couldn’t have gone any harder, so the best rider won on the day. I took as many risks as I could, but there wasn’t a dry inch on the course, I’m used to rain at home, but not rain like this.”
Head coach Brian Nugent was following the race, updating Mullen on his split times along the route. Nugent was delighted with the performance saying “that’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from an Irish rider. He rode the course perfectly, and couldn’t do anymore; he was very unlucky to miss out on the gold. That was a world class performance; he made no mistakes. I’m really pleased with his progress, Ryan has just established himself as a world class rider, I couldn’t be happier with that.”
Next up is the Junior Men’s Time Trial, tomorrow morning, with European Track Championship silver medallist Mark Downey, and Michael O’Loughlin competing. Nicolas Roche competes in the Elite Men’s Time Trial on Wednesday.
In the Elite Women’s Road Race Olivia Dillon has withdrawn from the competition stating “after a great deal of consideration and thought, I have decided not to participate in this year’s Road World Championships. After having raced a very long and exhausting season, I feel it is time to take a much needed rest. I want to thank Cycling Ireland for selecting me and I look forward to racing next season and targeting Richmond 2015.”
The Irish Team at the World Championships is sponsored by Armor-lux, PowerBar and Spin 11. The UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, run from 21st September – 28th September.
Full Team:
Junior Men
Eddie Dunbar
Daire Feeley
Dylan O’Brien
Michael O’Loughlin
Stephen Shanahan
Reserve – Craig McAuley
Time Trial – Mark Downey & Michael O’Loughlin
Junior Women
Josie Knight – Road & Time Trial
U23 Men
Conor Dunne
Ryan Mullen
Jack Wilson
Reserve – Eoin McCarthy
Time Trial – Ryan Mullen
Elite Women
Olivia Dillon (RR)
Elite Men
Philip Deignan
Daniel Martin
Nicolas Roche (& TT)
Reserve – Sam Bennett
| Day 1 – Monday 22nd September 2014 | Results | ||
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| Josie Knight | Women Junior Individual Time Trial | 37 |
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| Ryan Mullen | Men U23 Individual Time Trial | 2 |
| Day 2 – Tuesday 23rd September 2014 |
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| Mark Downey | Men Junior Individual Time Trial |
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| Michael O’Loughlin | Men Junior Individual Time Trial |
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| Day 3 – Wednesday 24th September 2014 |
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| Nicolas Roche | Men Elite Individual Time Trial |
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| Day 4 – Friday 26th September 2014 |
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| Josie Knight | Women Junior Road Race |
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| Conor Dunne | Men U23 Road Race |
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| Ryan Mullen | Men U23 Road Race |
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| Jack Wilson | Men U23 Road Race |
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| Day 5 – Saturday 27th September 2014 |
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| Eddie Dunbar | Men Junior Road Race |
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| Daire Feeley | Men Junior Road Race |
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| Dylan O’Brien | Men Junior Road Race |
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| Michael O’Loughlin | Men Junior Road Race |
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| Stephen Shanahan | Men Junior Road Race |
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| Olivia Dillon | Women Elite Road Race |
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| Day 6 – Sunday 28th September 2014 |
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| Philip Deignan | Men Elite Road Race |
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| Daniel Martin | Men Elite Road Race |
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| Nicolas Roche | Men Elite Road Race |
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