Ryan Mullen returns to world championships hoping to snag gold

The 2014 silver medallist Ryan Mullen is one of 13 Irish competitors who will line out in the world road race championships in Richmond, Virginia, with the 21-year-old completely focussed on gold this time around.

Twelve months ago Mullen finished just 0.48 seconds behind the under-23 time trial victor Campbell Flakemore (Australia), going agonisingly close to victory and a likely WorldTour contract.

He spent another year with the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team, netting fourth in the European road championship time trial and eighth in the same event at the European Games. He has worked to step up a level since then and recently rode the Tour of Britain on a trial with the Cannondale-Garmin WorldTour squad. He has inked a two-year deal with the team, starting next January.

Another to watch at the worlds is the talented first year senior Eddie Dunbar, who gained a slot in the under-23 road race after Cycling Ireland lobbied the UCI for a place. The Irish team had missed out on qualification but were able to secure one place.

Elite team

The men’s elite team will comprise just two riders, with Sam Bennett and Conor Dunne competing in the road race.

Cycling Ireland could have sent a third rider but with Dan Martin and Matt Brammeier injured, Nicolas Roche fatigued and Philip Deignan in average form and feeling the course doesn’t suit him, each of those four have opted out.

Ciara Doogan will be the first Irish competitor in action, riding the 15km junior women’s time trial on Monday. She will also do the road race on Friday week.

Junior men Michael O’Loughlin and Simon Tuomey will compete in the 30km junior time trial on Tuesday, and will then join Adam Stenson, Darragh O’Mahony and Jake Gray in the junior road race on Saturday 26th.

Siobhan Horgan will compete in the elite women’s time trial on Tuesday while Olivia Dillon and Fiona Meade will contest the elite women’s road race on Saturday week.

“The World Championships is the most prestigious event of the road race season and comes at the end of a long, tough season,” stated Cycling Ireland technical director Brian Nugent.