Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) is on the cusp of a major stage race win after today moving into the yellow jersey at Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc. The Irishman was today once again at the front of one of the biggest U23 races in the world when the climbing was at its hardest, just like he performed on his way to the runner-up placing in the Baby Giro last month.
The 20-year-old from Co Tyrone now faces one more stage, defending the race lead, before he could be crowned overall winner for 2023. And while that stage involves another summit finish - to Breuil-Cervinia - he has a very significant time advantage over the riders now behind him in the general classification.
Today's stage - some 172.5km from Verrayes to Fénis - ended at the top of a 4.9km climb - at 9.2 per cent gradient - which followed immediately after the 9.3km ascent of Champremier, which averaged 9.1 per cent gradient.
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As expected, those two climbs split the race to pieces, with Rafferty finishing 2nd on the stage, some 1:08 behind Sergio Meris (Team Colpack Ballan CSB). The rest of the field was scattered way back the road, with even the 10th placed rider on the stage some 5:34 down.
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Rafferty had started today's stage in 5th overall, some 27 seconds behind race leader Martin Tjøtta (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme). And as the time gaps were so large today, Rafferty has shot up the standings to 1st.
He now leads by 2:44 from Alexy Faure Prost (Circus-ReUz-Technord), the French rider who was 5th on the Baby Giro and was one of the best climbers in that race.
More to come.
