The push forward for Irish cycling in all categories this year is reflected in the starting list of the season-ending Chrono des Nations TT in France this weekend, when four Irish riders are due to take on some of the best riders in the world.
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) will be the sole Irish representative in the men's pro race, over 45.43km in Les Herbiers, a year after his debut appearance in the famed TT, with a 12th place finish. He has really hit the big time since last year's race and it will be interesting to see how he does against some of the best testers in the world, especially after his recent stage win at Tour de Luxembourg and attacking ride at Il Lombardia.
The opposition this Sunday will include European TT champion Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) as well as world champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep); their presence meaning even in a podium finish in the elite men's race this weekend would be a great result.
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In the U23 men's race, Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) will be on the start line and he too has enjoyed a transformative season, with 2nd in Giro Next Gen followed by overall victory in Giro Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc in July.
He placed 5th in the U23 TT at the Worlds in Scotland in September and having already finished 2nd at Chrono des Nations as a junior and 6th last year as an U23 - he will be chasing a big performance. Indeed, he has mentioned the race as a target in a number of interviews this season.
In the junior event, Rafferty's brother, Adam Rafferty, will line out in his final event as an U18, before he moves to Hagens Berman Axeon for his first year as an U23 next year. Seth Dunwoody (Cannibal B Victorious) is also down to ride and after 9th on the TT stage at Keizer der Juniores (2.1) this season, the national road race champion can pull a strong performance out of the bag.
Rafferty is the Irish junior TT champion and he has ridden really well against the watch this year, with a strong of top TT results in international races, including 8th in the junior TT at the Worlds and 10th in the Europeans.
