A day after he dominated the under 23 Chrono des Nations and further underlined the potential he showed with seventh place in the world under 23 TT championships in September, nineteen year old Ryan Mullen has been confirmed as racing with the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team next year.
The national under 23 TT champion has raced with the IG Sigma Sport team this season. In addition to his strong time trial performances, he also took bronze in the scratch race and the individual pursuit at the under 23 European track championships in July.
Given that he is a first year senior, it seems clear that Ireland has a very promising young rider. The An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team has a history of developing young talent and will hope to do the same with him.
Also coming in board is the British rider Owain Doull, who won the points classification in the An Post Rás last May and also took second on a stage. The twenty year old was also sixth on a stage of the Tour of Britain plus sixth in the best young rider classification.
Both are part of the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team’s drive to replace Tour of Britian stage winner Sam Bennett, who is moving to NetApp Endura, and the retiring Niko Eeckhout.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts believes that the two riders will be strong additions. “I think we have signed two of the best young talents around in Ryan Mullen and Owain Doull,” he stated. “I am really looking forward to working with them both and I think they will be great additions to our squad for next year.
“As a team and for myself, I will really miss the racing experience and personalities of Ronan and Nico, they both gave one hundred percent and we wish them the very best for the future.”
Bennett spent three years with the team and recently credited it with helping him get through some frustrating times and delivering on his potential.
Bogaerts is happy to see him get a two year pro contract, but said that he will also miss him. “It’s a bittersweet feeling with Sam. I am obviously delighted for him and he deserves this move because he is a very talented rider and he has worked extremely hard for this,” he said. “At the same time he has been here for three years and I am sad to see him go.”
Also departing is Irish rider Ronan McLaughlin, who has been with the team for six years and, in addition to taking strong results himself, was responsible for helping many others on the team clock up wins.
Eeckhout’s retirement brings to an end a five year stint with the team plus a 21 year pro career.