Rafferty in strong Burgos TT, Dunbar in Irish champ's colours | Video

Eddie Dunbar looking slick in his new national TT champion's livery during today's stage at Vuelta a Burgos (Photo: Rafa Gomez-SCA-Cor Vos)

Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) has put in a strong TT ride on today's stage 4 at Vuelta a Burgos (2.Pro) to move in the general classification on a day when Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) came storming back into form.

Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) also have the 18.5km TT into Pampliega a good rattle; the new Irish champion clearly give to represent his new champion's livery as best he could, even though the pan flat course would not be to his liking.

The TT was won by Australian Vine, who is returning to competition this week after suffering spinal fractures in a crash at Itzulia Basque Country back in April; a race that took out may of the big names in the sport. 

Rafferty, the new Irish road race champion, placed 14th today, some 40 seconds down on Vine and one second, and one place, up on general classification leader Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike).

Advertisement

Kuss held the race lead, which he took by winning on the uphill finish yesterday, and leads overall by just five seconds from Britain's Max Poole (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL).

Related News

For his part, Dunbar also put in a solid TT today, placing 21st, some 50 seconds down. Those results for the Irish riders saw Rafferty move up 10 places in the overall to 16th, some 1:23 down on Kuss. Dunbar, who is still looking to find his legs after his Giro crash-related exit in May, is 40th at 3:02.

Rafferty has been on team duties this week for Jefferson Cepeda, who 6th on yesterday's summit finish - up an 11km HC climb to Lagunas de Neila - and was 5th overall starting the TT today, though has now slipped to 18th, two places below the Irishman.

Rafferty was 27th down on stage winner Kuss yesterday on the uphill finish, at 1:15, while Dunbar was 44th at 2:44. The race continues tomorrow with an undulating - though not extreme - 156km stage from Frías to Condado de Treviño.

Related News