Adam Rafferty of Hagens Berman Jayco has continued his strong run of performances against the watch on the opening stage of Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc (Photo by Massimo Paolone)
Adam Rafferty of Hagens Berman Jayco has continued his strong run of performances against the watch on the opening stage of Giro Ciclistico della Valle d'Aosta-Mont Blanc.
The race also marks a really welcome return for Cork's Liam O'Brien (Lidl Trek Future Racing). He is back in the peloton following the tragic death of his younger brother, Shane, in a training accident last month.
And while O'Brien has always been willed on by Irish cycling fans, like all of our young riders, there is huge support for him, and his family, as he makes a very tough return.
Rafferty, racing for the first time since winning U23 TT gold and U23 road race silver at the 'Nationals' three weeks ago, finished just outside the top 10.
This is a race won overall by his brother, Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost), three years ago.
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Over the 10.5km uphill TT to Passy Plaine-Joux - up one slope with pitches of almost 10 per cent in places - Rafferty was 12th yesterday, Thursday.
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He was 1:25 down on stage winner, and first race leader, Brazilian Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team). He won by just 1.6 seconds from Max Bock (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies).
O'Brien, who would normally really fancy the hilly terrain, also did well today, placing 19th at 1:53, with two other young Irish cyclists also in action in this race.
First-year U23 David Gaffney (Hagens Berman Jayco) was 24th, at 2:11, while Patrick Casey (NSN Development) placed 108th at 5:51.
The race, with three hilly stages to come before it concludes on Sunday, continues today, Friday, with a 147.5km stage from Hône to Forte di Bard.
There is 3,300m of climbing, and though there is no summit finish, the climb of Ravet (11.1km at 7.1 per cent) and the Col de Joux (7km at 6.8 per cent) come one of the other.
There is just a very small section of descent in between, and those two back-to-back climbs are certain to bring about the first GC selection in this four-stage race.
