Impressive Mullen takes eighth in time trial at Euro Games
20-year-old Mullen, competing for the first time in a major senior championship race, posted a fast one hour 2 minutes and 17 seconds for the 50.9 kilometre race, held on the edge of Bilgah Beach.
Mullen continued his rise through the ranks, having taken silver at the World Under-23 time trial championships last year, following that up with third place at this year’s An Post Rás.
“That was definitely the hottest time trial I have ever done,” joked Mullen afterwards. “I came here hoping for top 10 to 12 position.” Mullen began the 50K time trial ranked number 19.
“It’s new for me competing in a field like this. I left everything out there, I couldn’t have pushed much harder, but it was the same for everybody,” smiled Mullen who will be 21 in August.
Mullen got off to a solid start, easing out of the starting ramp and then building momentum as the clouded morning sky cleared with temperature’s rising to 30 degrees after the midday start time.
Mullen posted the sixth fastest first lap of the day, 30 minutes and four point 33 seconds, the course divided as two laps of 25 kilometres, before slowing somewhat for the next 13 kilometres.
“I’m always a bit like that, I tend to go hard for the first 10 to 15 kilometres than fade a little, but that’s just the style I ride, it’s just go hard or go home.”
Like many cyclists, the Birkenhead-born Meath man spends most of his time between training in Belgium and Spain.
“It was a great experience for me, to race guys like Vasil Kiryienka is like wow, that’s a real experience for me,” says Mullen.
Kiryienka of Belarus won gold in 59 minutes and 36.03 seconds.
35-year-old Dubliner Caroline Ryan finished 15th in the women’s event over 25.8kms in 35.29.55.
Meanwhile, gymnast Kieran Behan finished in 17th position in the men’s individual all-round final, some nine points behind winner Oleg Verniaiev of Ukraine, though posting the strongest floor routine of the day.
“I’m just delighted to be out there competing with the likes of those athlete’s” explained London born Behan who competes in the men’s floor final on Saturday.
Elsewhere Sean McCombe made it five boxers from six when he defeated Ukraine’s Tymar Beliak in his men’s light round of 32 clash on points, 29–28, 30–27, 29–28. McComb faces Italian Donato Cosenza tomorrow.
There was no luck for Chloe Aboud, defeated by number one ranked Elin Johanson of Sweden, in round one of taekwondo and exits Baku 2015, as does wrestler Alexander Dolly lost who out to Spain’s Friev Naskidaeva.
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