Adam Rafferty and Liam O’Brien provided further evidence that the future of Irish cycling is bright with impressive performances in Friday’s junior men’s time trial at the World Championships in Scotland.
Rafferty finished a superb eighth in the 22.7km individual test, 58 seconds behind the winner Oscar Chamberlain (Australia), and 24 seconds off the bronze medal.
O’Brien was a further 20 seconds behind Rafferty in 11th place, another fine showing in a field of 71 starters.
“I don’t think I ever went that hard in a time trial in my life,” national junior TT champion Rafferty said. “Through the villages it was lovely hearing all the people out supporting. It was just a sufferfest until I saw that 1km to go flag and the adrenaline really just hit. And with about 500 metres to go you turn the corner on to the cobbles and the [noise of the] crowd just hits you. The adrenaline was amazing, I never felt anything like it.”
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O’Brien was an early starter in the event in Stirling and became the provisional race leader with his performance. While he did slip down as the higher-seeded riders came through, he was pleased with the result.
“There as a cross-headwind on the way out. I was just pushing along there. I was trying to save a bit for that last climb. It was a good ride, I think.”
The performances followed on from two strong showings by young riders on Thursday, namely Lucy Bénézet Minns’s fourth place in the junior women’s time trial, and Rafferty’s brother Darren’s fifth place in the under-23 event.
Darren Rafferty is set to turn pro next season and both his younger brother and O’Brien, as well as Bénézet Minns, look set for big futures.
Meanwhile, Ryan Mullen finished 19th in the elite men’s time trial, finishing three minutes and two seconds behind the winner Remco Evenepoel of Belgium. Mullen went off early and put in a strong performance to set the provisional best time, with fellow Irishman Ben Healy posting a time 12 seconds slower. He ended up 26th overall.
National champion Mullen said he was pleased with his ride. “It was hard. It was long and it was hard and it was windy. I think I judged it quite well because I actually didn’t fade.”
Paracycling riders Declan Slevin and Allister MacSorley (H4 category) were also in action, with Slevin 21st in the H3 time trial and MacSorley 18th in the H4 class.
The world championships continues on Saturday with a number of races. These include the under-23 road race, where Darren Rafferty will seek to build on his fifth place in the time trial, plus a number of paracycling events.
Ronan Grimes is aiming to defend his world title of last year in the C4 road race, while Katie George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly are chasing a second gold after winning the tandem time trial on Thursday. Josephine Healion and Eve McCrystal will also be aiming high in that race.
