Ryan Mullen

Ryan Mullen got the Irish European championship challenge off to a great start today when he finished second in the junior time trial at the European Championships in Zeeland in Holland. He finished ten seconds behind Norwegian rider Madthias Krigbaum, who covered the 24.9 kilometre distance in 30 minutes 15 seconds.

The third-placed finisher Mads Würtz Schmidt (Slovenia) was eleven seconds off gold.

National road race and time trial champion Mullen was joined by fellow Irishman Dylan Foley in the race. He finished 63rd but the younger rider’s priority is to build experience.

Both riders will compete in Saturday’s junior road race, along with Sean Hahessy, Cormac Clarke, Jack Sadler and Thomas Fallon. Before then, Sean Downey, Aaron Buggle and Conor Dunne will compete in tomorrow’s Under 23 time trial.

The trio will combine with Irish under 23 champion Philip Lavery, Sam Bennett, Felix English and Jack Wilson in Sunday’s 172 kilometre road race; Lauren Gourlay will compete in the junior women’s event on the same day.


European junior time trial championship:

1, Madthias Wickma Krigbaum (Denmark) 24.9 kilometres in 30 mins 15 secs
2, Ryan Mullen (Ireland) at 10 secs
3, Matej Mohoric (Slovenia)
4, Amund Jansen (Norway) at 18 secs
5, Marcus Faglum Karlsson (Sweden) at 19 secs
6, Szymon Rekita (Poland) at 25 secs

Other Irish:

63, Dylan Foley (Ireland) at 3 mins 12 secs