Both Archie Ryan (Jumbo Visma) and Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) enjoyed a successful day on the final stage at Istrian Spring Trophy (2.2) in Croatia. Ryan (20) defended his 7th place overall while Rafferty was called into team duties in defence of the yellow jersey within his team.
As today's final stage - 136km from Pazin to Umag - came down to a bunch sprint there was no change in the overall. Rafferty's team mate - American rider Matthew Riccitello (20) - retained the race lead to run out the overall winner.
He was one of two riders who gained 40 seconds on the opening road stage on Friday. And while he was beaten to victory that day by breakaway companion Sean Flynn, the British rider with Swiss Racing Academy - Flynn lost time on the uphill finish yesterday which saw Riccitello take the yellow jersey.
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Ryan put in a great ride on that stage yesterday to place 6th and he was one of six riders who emerged in a select group at the head of affairs on the tough uphill finish. He went into today's final stage in 7th place overall at 38 seconds and ended the race today in the same position in the final standings.
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Rafferty was called into action today in defence of the yellow jersey but he and his team mates were up to the task and emerge from their first stage race of the season with overall victory; a massive boost for them.
Meanwhile, Ryan is coming back from an ACL injury that cost him all of last season. His ability to be one of the top riders on the final climb yesterday suggests his knee is fully recovered and he is back in very good climbing form again.
Today's final stage was won in a bunch sprint by 23-year-old Swiss rider Robin Froidevaux (Swiss Racing Academy) from 23-year-old Pole Bartosz Rudyk (Santic-Wibatech) and 22-year-old Croatian Viktor Potočki (Ljubljana Gusto Santic) in 3rd.
The bunch was trimmed to just over 100 riders today as the climbs - though modest - took their toll. Rafferty and Ryan were both in that bunch in 55th and 79th places respectively.
