What the team will look like in 2026 is still unclear, but Israel-Premier Tech lands another one with experienced Irish rider

“Israel – Premier Tech is pleased to welcome Irishman Ryan Mullen to the team on a two-year contract through to 2027,” the team announced in a press release. His new team describes him as “a multiple national time trial champion renowned for his engine, positioning skills, and selfless teamwork, 31-year-old Mullen will play a key role across IPT’s classics campaigns, sprint trains, and stage race support.”

General manager Kjell Carlström provides further explanation. “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,” said the Swede about the new addition, who is transferring from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.

“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,” Carlström continues. "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."

The 31-year-old Irishman is happy with his move and is eager to get started. “I’ve watched this team grow throughout my entire professional career, right from its early days as Cycling Academy. 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.”

“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,” Mullen continues.

The Irishman is clear about what we can expect from him in his new team. “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 70 kph.”

“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,” says Mullen, who sees himself as “one of the riders who can bring valuable experience.” “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.”

And what about his goals? “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. 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.”

Mullen is the fourth signing for the team currently known as Israel-Premier Tech. Earlier, it managed to attract Lewis Askey from Groupama-FDJ, while Alessandro Pinarello came over from Bardiani. The talented Brady Gilmore will be transferred from the development team this winter.