Mullen Is Ireland's Top Finisher In Action Packed U23 Men's Road Race At The UCI Road World Championships

In a fast moving race at the UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain, Ryan Mullen was Ireland's top finisher in the U23 Men's Road Race. Ireland entered a strong three man team in the 182km event, with all riders staying comfortably in the main group until the last five laps, when the pace came up. In the last lap attacks split the field apart, with Norway's Sven Erik Bystrom winning the World Title ahead of Caleb Ewan (Australia) and Bystrom's teammate Kristoffer Skjerping (Norway) winning bronze. Mullen, who won a silver medal in the Time Trial on Monday, finished in 63rd position, with Conor Dunne a little further back in 72nd; Jack Wilson finished in 101st position. Tomorrow morning the Junior Men line up in the Road Race, with all eyes on Corkman Eddie Dunbar. The Championships run from Sunday 21st September until Sunday the 28th September.

The U23 Men's Road Race had a tentative start, with ten laps of an 18.2km circuit to navigate, so an early break of three riders was allowed to get away, with the bunch remaining steady for half the race. However, the second half of the race in contrast was a war of attrition, with a nervous bunch of riders.

Ryan Mullen, speaking after the race described how the race unfolded "It is a pretty lumpy course out there. Early on the Australian's controlled the race from the front, but it was a gritty last five laps, just wearing you down. The bunch was a bit nervous, there was a lot of slamming on, at one point I came down myself, someone in front of me got caught up on the climb, and I went over the handlebars. I got straight back up and carried on. The hardest part of the course was the feed zone. We were expecting the climb, but this was a long drag, so you went up it not too fast and not too slow, it was an uncomfortable pace that just wore you down."

Mullen has had a fantastic season, starting off with a fourth place in the Men's Elite Individual Pursuit at the World Championships, before winning National Titles on the road, and finishing up with a World Championship silver medal in the U23 Men's Time Trial earlier this week. His focus is now going to switch back to the track for the winter "Next up is Majorca; I'm switching my focus back to the track for the winter. Last year was good, and I've still areas to improve."

Next up in Ponferrada is the Junior Men's 127.4km Road Race tomorrow morning, where Ireland has again fielded a strong team of riders.