Ryan Mullen (Cannondale-Drapac) has taken gold in the Irish Elite Men’s National Time-Trial Championships at Johnstown Estate Castle in Co. Wexford.

Mullen who also won the title in 2015, finished 15 seconds ahead of defending champion, Nicolas Roche (BMC Racing) and Marcus Christie (Performance SBR) rounded off the podium with bronze.

Speaking after the race Mullen was happy with his performance saying: “I went out there this morning and felt good, and I went out there and did my best forty-minute power that I’ve ever done so it went pretty well.”

“It means a lot to me,” said Mullen. “I felt like I was under a bit of pressure to win, especially after Worlds last year. To be honest, I expected to win and would have been disappointed if I didn’t. I’m glad I wasn’t unrealistic or over-confident about my chances.

“Being a national champion is something I’m very proud of,” he added. “I will always make an effort to come to Nationals, even if the timing or the location doesn’t make it the easiest race in the world to include in my schedule.”

“The race was run on this country road,” noted Mullen. “The surface was really bad, with holes everywhere, and it was hard to pick your line. I think that played to my strength as a heavier guy. The lighter guys probably bounced about. There wasn’t much in the way of climbs. It was a fairly straightforward course.”

A stiff headwind on the way out required a measured approach to the first half of the race.

“I had to start a little bit harder than what I could sustain,” said Mullen. “I got to the halfway point, and I hadn’t over-paced. I was 15-seconds down. I thought: ‘Well, shit. This hasn’t gone to plan.’ But Roche went out too hard as well, and I pulled back 30, 40 seconds on him going back.”

In the U23 category Michael O’Loughlin (Team Wiggins) stormed home a minute clear of Team Raleigh GAC’s Conn McDunphy, with 2016 U23 time-trial champion Eddie Dunbar (Axeon Hagens Berman) in bronze position, having suffered a mechanical on the course.

Photo: Graham Healy

Fresh from competing in the An Post Rás where he won the Youth category followed by the Giro Ciclistico d’Italia (Baby Giro), the talented young rider was happy to retain his title.

“The course was quite different to most races we do,” said O’Loughlin. “It was fast early on, and there was a strong tailwind back. Mullen passed me with 8km to go – I tried to keep him in sight at least, and that gave me a better time at the end.”

Elite Men
1 – Ryan Mullen (Cannondale) 40:48.82
2 – Nicholas Roche (BMC) 41:02.27
3 – Marcus Christie (Performance SBR) 43:17.09

Photo: Cycling Ireland

U23 Men
1 – Michael O’Loughlin (Team Wiggins) 43:17.82
2 – Conn McDunphy (Team Raleigh GAC) 44:17.79
3 – Eddie Dunbar (Axeon Hagens Berman) 45:23.95

Photo: Cycling Ireland

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