Rafferty emerges from O Gran Camiño with reputation enhanced | Video

Darren Rafferty has come through four days of hard racing O Gran Camiño with his reputation enhanced after some very strong riding (Photo: Nathalie Teyssier)

Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) has completed the hardest race of his fledgling pro career to date, with the Irishman riding very strongly over three tough road stages at O Gran Camiño, after finishing 2nd in the opening TT.

Many riders new to the pro bunch, especially those as young as 20-year-old Rafferty, take time to adapt to racing at this level, even though the sport seen a small number of teenagers excel in recent years. However, Rafferty has already looked at home in his new surroundings.

He ended O Gran Camiño, won by Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), in 17th place overall; perhaps not a result that jumps off the page but a significant one for a new pro riding against big name rivals in very difficult conditions.

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After his 2nd place in the opening TT, he placed 27th on stage 2, and was 24th on Saturday's stage 3.

While the opening stage TT was neutralised for the general classification, because of dangerous windy conditions, the fact Rafferty backed himself to still ride for a stage result was a very positive sign. He was beaten only by Josh Tarling, the Ineos Grenadiers rider who is among the very best testers in the world.

After riding very strong on stages 2 and 3, while also doing some work for team leader Richard Carapaz, Rafferty was 20th yesterday, some 1:54 down on Vingegaard, who won all three road stages again at this year's race.

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The Dane lit it up on the final climb, of Monte Aloia, with an attack some 3km from the finish line. While Lenny Martinez (Groupama FDJ) did his best to respond, and did a solid job, Vingegaard won solo by 16 years from the young French rider.

Rafferty was among the remains of the peloton when Vingegaard jumped. And in the drag race to the line, in heavy rain, Rafferty limited his losses quite well, moving up five places in the final general classification to 17th.

He finished 5:14 down on the race winner and was also 6th in the young rider classification, which was won by Martinez, who also took 2nd overall - at 1:55. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) was 3rd overall, at 2:11.

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