Darren Rafferty is building on recent strong performances such as victory in the Irish under-23 time-trial championships and sixth in the recent European under-23 time-trial championships, with the Dungannon rider showing well in the Giro de Valle d’Aosta this week.
Rafferty finished a superb third on Wednesday’s opening stage, infiltrating the day’s key breakaway and proving one of the strongest riders on the Le Bettex climb close to the finish. He crossed the line one minute and 11 seconds behind the British stage winner Mason Hollyman (Israel Cycling Academy) and 19 seconds off runner-up Lenny Martinez (Equipe Continentale Groupama-FDJ). He ended the day third overall and second in both the best young rider standings and the King of the Mountains competition.
Rafferty is now eighth overall after Thursday’s second stage, having placed 20th in the race to Saint Christophe. Italian rider Lorezno Germani (Equipe Continentale Groupama-FDJ) won the stage, soloing to victory two minutes and 14 seconds ahead of the Irishman.
The 18-year-old is one minute and 13 seconds behind new leader Lenny Martinez. He heads into Friday’s stage third in both the young rider classification and the mountains competition.
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Meanwhile, British rider Ben Askey (Backstedt Bike Performance) triumphed on stage three of the Eurocycles/Eurobaby Junior Tour of Ireland on Thursday, beating Sean Strachan (Team Swift), Reilly Oberding (ONTO) and the rest of a 30-man group in a sprint to the line in Kilkee.
Adam Gilsenan (Ireland) was best of the Irish riders in fourth place. He went clear with Buck Jones (Bäckstead Bike Performance) with 15 kilometres remaining but was hauled back.
British rider Lucas Jowett (Backstedt Bike Performance) continues to lead overall, 20 seconds ahead of Andrew August (Hot Tubes) and a further six seconds in front of Mattie Dodd (Backstedt Bike Performance). Gilsenan moves up three places to 11th overall, 41 seconds back. Team Ireland’s Conal Scully leads the King of the Mountains classification.
The race continues on Friday with a 87.8-kilometre stage from Ennis to Barefield.
