Ireland's Darren Rafferty (19) excels into Saint Gervais Mont Blanc | Video

Daren Rafferty, second from left, in the successful breakaway on the opening stage yesterday at Giro Valle d'Aosta

Irish rider Darren Rafferty is continuing another breakthrough season at the Giro Valle d'Aosta U23 stage race in Italy, where he made the winning breakaway on the opening stage before finishing in 3rd place.

The 19-year-old, riding for Hagens Berman Axeon, got into a strongman's breakaway early on the opening stage yesterday, with the riders racing 84km starting and finishing in Saint Gervais Mont Blanc.

In that breakaway with Rafferty was eventual stage winner Mason Hollyman (Israel Cycling Academy), Enzo Paleni (Groupama FDJ),
Alessio Martinelli (Bardiani CSF Faizanè) and Florian Lipowitz (Tirol KTM Cycling Team).

While they combined well to open a gap on the peloton, the main feature of the stage - the 12.6km climb of Le Bettex, averaging 5.9 per cent - blew the breakaway to pieces. That climb was crested just 10km from the finish, meaning it decided the stage result.

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When the road kicked up on Le Bettex it was Hollyman and Rafferty who emerged as the strongest of the breakaway men, riding well clear of the three others.

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As the climb went on, Hollyman pulled away from Rafferty, though the Irishman retained his shape very well and continued to work away. Behind him, the strong riders in the peloton were attacking on the climb and setting off in pursuit of Hollyman and Rafferty.

However, only one of those chasers -- the highly fancied climber Lenny Martinez of Groupama FDJ Continental Team - managed to catch Rafferty and distance him a little.

British rider Hollyman (22) took a well deserved stage victory some 52 seconds ahead of France's Martinez (19), with Rafferty in 3rd place at 1:11. Just four seconds behind the Irishman came Reuben Thompson, a 21-year-old from New Zealand riding for Groupama FDJ Continental, and Oscar Onley, the 19-year-old British cyclist compering with DSM Development.

The stage result means Rafferty was 3rd overall going into today's stage 2, some 124km kilometers with three climbs in the final 50km. Those final climbs today include the Jeanceyaz - 6.2 km at 8 per cent - and the Grand Brissogne - 3.7 km at 8.4 per cent. Rafferty also picked up the sprints jersey yesterday.

This is the video of the full stage so flick forward and catch the final climb for most of the action out front

Stage 1 | Saint Gervais Mont Blanc (84km)

  1. HOLLYMAN Mason Israel Cycling Academy 02:13:57
  2. MARTINEZ Lenny Groupama-FDJ Conti + 52
  3. RAFFERTY Darren Hagens Berman Axeon + 01:11
  4. THOMPSON Reuben Groupama-FDJ Conti + 01:15
  5. ONLEY Oscar Development Team DSM + 01:15
  6. RACCANI Simone Italy + 01:21
  7. BERHE Welay EF Education-NIPPO Development Team + 01:21
  8. PORTER Rudy Trinity Racing + 01:23
  9. CIUCCARELLI Riccardo Italy + 02:06
  10. TOLIO Alex Bardiani CSF Faizanè + 02:07
  11. PICKERING Finlay Groupama-FDJ Conti + 02:07
  12. PALENI Enzo Groupama-FDJ Conti + 02:19
  13. CASTRILLO Pablo Lizarte + 02:19
  14. STOCKWELL Oliver Cycling Team Friuli ASD + 02:24
  15. FRIGO Marco Israel Cycling Academy + 02:33
  16. TERCERO Fernando EOLO-KOMETA U23 + 02:33
  17. DE CASSAN Davide Cycling Team Friuli ASD + 02:33
  18. ZERAI Nahom Team Qhubeka + 02:33
  19. POOLE Max Development Team DSM + 02:33
  20. BAUDIN Alex Tudor Pro Cycling Team + 02:50

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