Irish junior rider David Gaffney has been going about his business very effectively this season with French outfit Team 31 Jolly Cycles; carving out a name for himself as a very strong stage race rider.
And that reputation took a big step forward this weekend when the 17-year-old for Dungarvan CC rider took arguably his best result of the season with some fine performances against a tough international field.
The Irish first-year junior finished 4th overall in the three-stage UCI-ranked La Ronde Des Vallées (2.1) based around Hémonstoir in Brittany, north west France. When the racing split and cream rose to the top, on undulating terrain, Gaffney was among a relatively small group left standing at the front.
On the final stage today - the 100.4km stage 2b, starting and finishing in Hémonstoir - Gaffney ended the day in 10th place, some 1:36 down on Dutch rider Ko Molenaar (Goudenbod-Parkhotel U19).
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And as the race split to pieces, the time gains made by the Irishman moved him up some eight places in the general classification to 4th.
He laid the foundations of his strong showing on stage 1 - some 105.7km starting and finishing in Cléguérec - by finishing in a 25-rider group behind the five riders who took the top placings.
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The victory that day went to Eliott Boulet (Groupama-FDJ U19 Team), who won by 50 seconds from Jules Drouet (UC Briochine - Bleu Mercure) and Antoine Basset (VC Pays de Loudéac) in 2nd and 3rd.
That result put Gaffney in a very good position as the remains of the bunch, numbering 50 riders, finishing three minutes behind his group, with no way back in the general classification fight.
Gaffney's Irish team mate, Sam Coleman, was in the remains of that bunch, placing 86th some 3:47 down on the stage winner.
The action moved on to this morning's stage 2a TT, some 11.5km from Saint-Caradec to Hémonstoir. It was won by Matisse Van Kerckhove (Crabbé-Dstny U19), 3rd in the Belgian TT championships this year, in a time of 14:25, an average speed of 47.861km per hour.
Gaffney put in another strong ride, placing 16th at 57 seconds, and moving up to 8th overall ahead of today's stage, which he ended in 10th for 4th overall. Coleman was a non-finisher today.
