Adam Rafferty has put in a storming performance in the U23 TT at the UEC European Road Championships in Étoile-sur-Rhône, France, to claim bronze.
The 19-year-old was fastest through the three time checks out on the 24km course, which the riders passed through with 17.4km to go, 12km to go and 1.5km to go.
However, the margins were relatively small and on the final short run to the finish after the last climb - as was the case for Irish junior rider Conor Murphy a little earlier in the day - Rafferty ceded some ground. It was an incredibly tight scrap for the U23 medals.
Gold went to Jonathan Vervenne of Belgium, who beat compatriot, Matisse Van Kerckhove, into the silver medal position by just two seconds. Rafferty was next, in 3rd at seven seconds.
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There was then a much bigger gap back to the 4th place finisher, Maxime Decomble of France, who led Tour de l'Avenir for five stages this year, as he was 16 seconds down. Mads Landbo (Denmark) was 5th at 27 seconds.
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Seth Dunwoody, who was also representing Ireland in the U23 TT alongside medal-winner Rafferty, put in a strong ride to take 16th place, at 1:22.
Rafferty clearly went out hard today as he was 19 seconds up on the eventual winner at the first time check and 18.5 seconds up at the second check and just a fraction of a second up at the final check as Vervenne was putting in a big finish to win.
Rafferty's stomping performance today came shortly after Conor Murphy claimed Ireland's first medal at these Europeans, with silver in the junior men's TT.
In the women's U23 TT today, Ireland's Lucy Bénézet Minns was 25th of 36 starters. Over the 24km course, she was 3:24 down on winner Federica Venturelli (Italy).
