Ryan Mullen is the big favourite to land back-to-back U23 time-trial titles tonight as this year’s national championships get underway in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche notched a career-best Grand Tour finish securing fifth place overall at the end of the Vuelta a Espana in Madrid yesterday.

Michael Hutchinson won his second successive Irish national time-trial title in the elite men’s event in Carlingford, Co. Louth last night.