Ireland's Archie Ryan (Jumbo Visma Development) and Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) have come through their first race of the season in Croatia, with both finishing in the bunch at Umag Trophy (1.2) in Croatia.
With the 154km contest always expected to come down to a bunch sprint, it was not a race that either Irishman was expected to challenge for as both excel on harder terrain.
However, there were several crashes today, including in the finale, which have rising to chaotic racing. Ryan, who is returning from injury, and Rafferty, making his debut today at Continental level, managed to avoid those to come through unscathed.
Daniel Auer, a 27-year-old Austrian riding for WSA KTM Graz p/b Leomo, took victory just one second ahead of the peloton after a late solo move that paid off. Behind him, Czech rider Tomáš Bárta (ATT Investments) took the sprint for 2nd place from Serbian Dušan Rajović (Team Corratec).
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The race, the first in a series of UCI-ranked events in Croatia over the next 10 days, was dominated by a six-man breakaway that was caught with about 10km remaining.
Rafferty, who was riding his first race out of the junior ranks and making his debut for his new team, added to the Hagens Berman Axeon effort to bring its sprinter Dries De Pooter (19) into contention in the finale.
The Belgian teenager placed 8th, with Rafferty crossing the line in the main pack one second behind the winner in 32nd place and with his first race now under his belt.
Ryan, who is a pure climber, was making his return to competition after nearly a year away from racing due to an ACL-related injury. The 20-year-old, now starting his third season with Jumbo Visma Development, finished in the bunch today in 66th place.
