Ryan Mullen
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Ryan Mullen got the Irish squad’s participation at the world cycling championships off to a strong start today, clocking up a top ten finish in the 26.6 kilometre junior time trial held this morning.
He finished ninth in the solo race in Limburg, covering the distance just 26.29 seconds behind the Norwegian winner Oskar Svendsen. Matej Mohoric (Slovenia) and Maximilian Schachmann earned silver and bronze, seven seconds and twelve seconds back respectively.
The championships continued this afternoon with the Under 23 TT, which was dominated by Anton Vorobyev. The Russian Katusha stagiaire beat second-placed rider Rohan Dennis (Australia) by 44 seconds over the 36 kilometre distance, with another Australian Damien Howson a further seven seconds back in third.
Sean Downey and Conor Dunne had hoped to battle for a high finish but neither were at their best today. Downey was 30th, three minutes eleven seconds back, while Dunne was four minutes 47 off gold in 48th.
Meanwhile Nicolas Roche’s final race with the Ag2r La Mondiale team took place yesterday, with the French squad squaring up against 32 other trade teams. The riders were fifteenth, two minutes 26.14 seconds behind the victorious Omega Pharma Quick Step squad.
BMC Racing team was second, losing its chance of victory when the formation broke up on the climb of the Cauberg, and ending up 3.23 seconds slower. Bronze went to Orica GreenEdge, 47.06 seconds back.
The world championships continue tomorrow with the time trials for Elite and junior women. Caroline Ryan and Olivia Dillon go in the former, while Ireland has no entrant in the latter.
After that, national champion Michael Hutchison and David McCann will compete in the Elite time trial on Wednesday. The programme will recommence for the team on Saturday with the first of the road races.
World championships, Limburg:
Junior time trial:
1, Oskar Svendsen (Norway) 26.6 km in 35 mins 34.75 secs
2, Matej Mohoric (Slovenia) at 7.04
3, Maximilian Schachmann (Germany) at 11.83
4, Alexander Morgan (Australia) at 12.6
5, Mathias Krigbaum (Denmark) at 13.68
6, Nathan Van Hooydonck (Belgium) at 19.37
Other:
9, Ryan Mullen (Ireland) at 26.71
Under 23 time trial:
1, Anton Vorobyev (Russian Federation) 36 km in 44 mins 9.02 secs
2, Rohan Dennis (Australia) at 44.39 secs
3, Damien Howson (Australia) at 51.12 secs
4, Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark) at 53.28 secs
5, Rasmus Christian Quaade (Denmark) at 1 min 2.56 secs
6, Marlen Zmorka (Ukraine) 1 min 9.42 secs
Other:
30, Sean Downey (Ireland) at 3 mins 10.86 secs
48, Conor Dunne (Ireland) at 4 mins 46.77 secs
REMAINING RACE SCHEDULE:
Tuesday Sept 18th - Women's TT: Caroline Ryan and Olivia Dillion
Wednesday Sept 19th - Men's TT: Michael Hutchinson and David McCann
Saturday Sept 22nd - U23 RR: Sean Downey, Conor Dunne, Sam Bennett, Philip Lavery, Jack Wilson:
Saturday Sept 22nd - Women's RR: Caroline Ryan, Olivia Dillion, Siobhan Horgan
Sunday Sept 23rd - Juniors RR: Ryan Mullen, Cormac Clarke, Matthew Doyle
Sunday Sept 23rd - Men's RR: Nicolas Roche, Dan Martin, Ronan McLaughlin