Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM Racing) picked a great time to take her first win of the season yesterday; claiming a solo victory on stage 5 at Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift (2.WWT). But while the 23-year-old German rider was delighted, and stunned, with her achievement, the real party was going on in the team car back in the cavalcade.
Irish coach Stephen Gallagher was in the thick of that action, with DS Magnus Bäckstedt and the team mechanic. Gallagher, in white T-shirt in the clip below, is a bag of nerves as the finish line approaches. And once the win is confirmed, the Northern Irishman and his colleagues go absolutely bananas.
Bauernfeind, a new pro this year, attacked on an incline just before a time bonus sprint with 36.4km to go and kept it going; dropping Claire Steels (Israel-Premier Tech-Roland), who was briefly clear with her.
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While Marlen Reusser (Team SD Worx) and stage 2 winner Liane Lippert (Movistar) went after her eventually, and went close to catching the lone leader, the German hung on to claim an incredible win.
Gallagher, the former Ireland and Northern Ireland international, last winter signed an extended coaching contract at Canyon-SRAM Racing with his business partner Dan Fleeman. The duo – who own Dig Deep Coaching – will work until at least the end of 2025 with Canyon-SRAM Racing.
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Gallagher has also been coaching some of the best riders in Ireland, including Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon), who has gone from the junior ranks to securing a World Tour contract with EF Education-EasyPost within 18 months.
