Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco) has blasted in for a fantastic start to his Giro Next Gen campaign, placing a fine 6th in the opening stage TT in Rho, northern Italy, on Sunday.
The 19-year-old from Co Tyrone is in his second season as an U23, though had school to worry about last year, and is clearly in mint condition as this eight-stage race starts, one of the hardest U23 stage races in the sport.
Rafferty was in the hotseat for a time in Rho after setting the fastest time. But it was the former junior road race world champion, Albert Philipsen (Lidl-Trek Future Racing), who nudged him off top spot.
In the end, the 8.4km TT, and first maglia rosa of the week, was taken by Slovakian Matthias Schwarzbacher (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z), who set a time of 9:17, in an average speed of 54.291kmph.
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Belgian Matisse Van Kerckhove (Visma-Lease a Bike Development) was 2nd, at one second, with Callum Thornley (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies) 3rd at three seconds. Rafferty claimed 6th, some seven seconds off the winning time.
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Irish riders Liam O'Brien (Lidl Trek Future Racing) and Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Development) are also in the race. Like Rafferty, they harbour genuine hopes of top stage or general classification results.
O'Brien, who is a contender for the general classification, was 34th today at 24 seconds with Dunwoody, who we may see in the mix tomorrow, was 36th at 25 seconds.
Albert Withen Philipsen ?? of @LidlTrek Future Racing powers through first place, Adam Rafferty ?? of @HBAxeon not super happy ???
Albert Withen Philipsen ?? della @LidlTrek Future Racing col miglior tempo, Adam Rafferty ?? della @HBAxeon non felicissimo ???#GiroNextGen pic.twitter.com/TO7ACtouSE
— Giro Next Gen (@gironextgen) June 15, 2025
