Irish rider Ryan Mullen and his Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling team-mates have gotten off to a winning start at the Czech Cycling Tour (UCI 2.1) by winning the opening stage team time-trial.
The Cannondale-Drapac team were fastest by eleven seconds as they finished the test over a lumpy 17.3-kilometre course in Frydek-Mistek in the east of the country in 20’05”, averaging over 51 kilometres per hour.
Polish team CCC Sprandi Polkowice finished in second place with local team Klein Constantia taking third a further four seconds behind.
Alongside Mullen on the Cannondale-Drapac team are Jack Bauer, Patrick Bevin, Sebastian Langeveld, Alan Marangoni, Kristoffer Skjerping, Wouter Wipper and Ruben Zepunkte.
Mullen was clearly delighted with the result as he tweeted afterwards: “So good to take out my first pro win in the team time trial with the @Ride_Argyle boys here in Czech tour. Faultless riding by everyone.”
Langeveld will wear the leader’s jersey going into the second stage. The race continues tomorrow with a 177-kilometre stage from Olomouc to Unicov and the riders will face four categorised climbs along the way.
So proud to be cannondale