Israel - Premier Tech announce another signing - Former Irish champion adds to classics and sprint firepower

Israel - Premier Tech has had problems with being an attractive team and signing new figures but ultimately with the departure of the main sponsor and Sylvan Adams it's finally begun announcing new riders coming in. This Friday, Ryan Mullen has been confirmed as to joining over from Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.

Throughout Ryan’s career, he has made a name for himself as a dependable teammate with an incredibly strong engine and that’s exactly why we were interested in bringing him to the team,” manager Kjell Calström said in a press release. 

Mullen is a rider that will be adding to the classics firepower but most likely play a key part of the team's sprinting ambitons, which will feature Ethan Vernon, Jake Stewart and quite possibly also Biniam Girmay who's been rumoured to join the team.

“Looking ahead to the 2026 season, we identified a gap in what we call our ‘engine room’ so we wanted to find a rider with a big engine who could bring experience and key race intelligence to the team. Not only does Ryan fit the bill, with vast experience when it comes to sprint trains and racing’s most chaotic moments, but he is a strong time trialist in his own right. We believe Ryan will be a great fit from both a racing and culture perspective.”

Mullen is a rider that has got lots of experience at the highest level of cycling, first joining the EF team back in 2015 as a trainee, making it already a decade of World Tour riding. “I’ve watched this team grow throughout my entire professional career, right from its early days as Cycling Academy,” Mullen added. “Seeing how far it’s come makes me genuinely excited about the opportunity to be part of what’s next, because I believe there’s still a lot more to achieve.

The 31-year old has for the past four seasons supported the likes of Pascal Ackermann and Jordi Meeus in the sprints for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, and has now taken the next step in his career. “I also think it’s a great experience to change environments and work with new people – and old friends – all striving toward the same goal: to win bike races. Jerseys may change over the years, but the ambition and drive remain the same.”

“My qualities as a rider are what have brought me to this point in my career. I’m never afraid to get my hands dirty in any race situation—whether it’s fighting through an echelon in Belgium, guiding a GC rider safely through tense moments, or delivering a sprinter at 70kph. I’d describe myself as a bit of a jack of all trades, which allows me to step up and make a difference in a variety of scenarios". Experience and his strong time trialing ability makes him a viable asset for the soon-to-be Canadian team if Premier Tech takes over.

Mullen has 11 pro wins, including three road race national titles, seven time trial titles and a stage at the 2018 Vuelta a San Juan. “At this stage of my career, I see myself as one of the riders who brings valuable experience, and I’m really looking forward to sharing that with my teammates. One thing my teams have always said about me is that I go all in for them. Over the past few years, I’ve also developed into more of a leader, and that’s something I’m eager to contribute to this team.

“For me, the main goal is to build a strong reputation as a dependable and consistent member of the team. I take pride in being reliable and in delivering on any plan that’s put in front of me," he concludes. "I’m excited to be in a new environment where my skills are valued and where I can contribute to the team’s success. The group’s great as well – a lot of the guys live in Andorra like I do, so I’m really looking forward to training and racing alongside them.”