Adam Rafferty, the cyclist from Co Tyrone, with Belgian U23 TT champion, Matisse Van Kerckhove, and his fan club after the Irish champion knocked the Belgian out of the hot seat at Giro Next Gen TT on Sunday from Villa Sant'Angelo to L'Aquila (Photo: Massimo Paolone)
Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco) was due to go into today's National TT Championships in Swinford, Co Mayo, as one of the big favourites - not just to retain the U23 title but to record the fastest time - after his huge performance in the Giro d'Italia Next Gen.
However, after his 2nd place on the final stage TT last Sunday, and before riding the Nationals, his focus has now switched to the U23 TT at the World Championships in Montréal in September.
"I'm really happy with the week," he said of the U23 Giro, placing 7th overall and beaten for victory in the TT only by overall winner, and U23 World Champion, Lorenzo Finn (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies).
"I went in thinking I wanted a top 10 on GC and ideally a stage win too. In the end, I almost got it. Obviously, I got the top 10 with that good move on stage 6,” he said of going in an early move and proving, by far, the strongest from it in the final."
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Ireland's Adam Rafferty of Hagens Berman Jayco after the stage 8 TT at Giro Next Gen, from Villa Sant'Angelo to L'Aquila (Photo: Massimo Paolone)
Rafferty contined: "Of course, I was a bit disappointed to not get that TT win. But, also, I know there's no secret that (Finn) is better than me. He took all of his time out of me on the climbs.
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"I think I did one of my best time trial performances ever. Usually, I always go a bit too hard. But this time, I decided to really stick to my pacing plan and it really worked.
"For sure, I was taking risks, but it was nice to have the team backing me. In the back of my mind, I knew if I got (to the TT) with people ahead of me on GC within a minute, I knew I could take them. I am quite confident in my TT.
"Now I'll switch my main focus onto the TT at the Worlds. I haven't really had much time to change position or anything on the bike.
“So I'll start looking into that. I hope to get into a tunnel before Worlds, which is now the big goal from here I think."
However, reflecting on the week, Rafferty said the death last Tuesday week of Shane O'Brien (16) - who was training when killed in Lismore, Co Waterford - "puts everything into perspective".
He said that was especially so because Shane's brother, Liam O'Brien, was riding the Giro Next Gen for Lidl Trek Future Racing but left the race once news of his brother's tragic death reached him.
"I'm not going to sit here and be all disappointed, you know?" said Rafferty of being beaten in the TT. "I know Liam so well, and you see him after... it was a tough week for the Irish boys."
