Adam Rafferty may not have gotten onto the final general classification podium at the Tour of Rhodes (2.2) but the young Irishman has clearly emerged from his first races of the season full of confidence having gauged himself against the opposition.
The Hagens Berman Jayco rider went on the attack on the final stage, making the select group and then splitting it on the climb. However, though he caused serious damage, there was a partial regrouping. And when time bonuses were factored in at the finish, he slipped from 4th to 5th overall.
However, he told stickybottle his takeaway from the race was the very significant improvement in his abilities compared to when he rode the event as a first-year U23 last season. He now has a full winter of full-time training under his belt, rather than going into the 2024 campaign juggling his racing with school.
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"Compared to the last year... this year I was the one attacking on the climbs and leading, instead of just hanging on," he said. "So I'm feeling very positive about it.
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"It was a huge step up from last year. I'm really happy with how my legs are and how I'm climbing. It's exciting for the future and hopefully it carries through to the next races."
Though Rafferty said his own team supported him very strongly, he also felt supported by the other Irish riders in the race; Conn McDunphy, Cian Keogh (both Team Skyline), Michael Collins, Christopher Marshall, Willem O'Connor, Eoghan Lattimore, Cal Tutty and Conor Prendergast (all Velo Performance).
"The Irish boys were really good for me," said Rafferty. "I kind of felt like I had a second team, whether it was just giving me an extra water bottle or maybe a couple of words of encouragement, going to dinner or whatever. It, for sure, didn't go unnoticed, it was really nice having that support."
And though he slipped one place to 5th overall on the final stage, instead of getting up onto the final podium, Rafferty said he felt non sense of disappointment given his form.
He added he also felt he rode well at the one-day Rhodes GP, before the Tour of Rhodes, but was sent the wrong way when in between the first and second groups off the front at the time.
