Rafferty solid as Vingegaard pulls trigger at O Gran Camiño | Video

Darren Rafferty was in the green jersey of points classification leader after his 2nd place in the opening TT yesterday (Photo: Luis Angel Gomez-SCA-Cor Vos)

Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) has enjoyed a more than solid day in epic conditions at O Gran Camiño as Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) pulled the trigger to take the stage win and race lead.

In sodden and cold conditions, that left the riders shivering at the finish, Rafferty survived in the remains of the peloton as it was whittled down to about 30 riders on the hilly terrain.

When the group reached the climb of Alto de San Pedro de Líncora, for the second passage to the finish line, Vingegaard went for broke with 8km to go and the group blew apart under the pressure he applied.

Rafferty, wearing the green points jersey after his 2nd place in yesterday's TT, was one of five EF Education-EasyPost riders still in the group at that point. Richard Carapaz was the favoured rider of the day within the US World Tour squad.

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When Vingegaard attacked, only Jefferson Cepeda (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and a hungry looking Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) were able to move with him. And though they remained on his wheel for the next few kilometres, Vingegaard never looked for one turn from them. He then surged again just inside 4km to go and went solo.

Bernal held him for longer than Cepeda, though that duo then linked up and sprinted it out for 2nd and 3rd some 24 seconds behind Vingegaard; Bernal winning the sprint for the runner-up spot.

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Though Carapaz was in the next group on the road, paced for a time by team mate Hugh Carthy, he finished in 10th in a group at 46 seconds. Rafferty came over the line, in a group sprinting for 22nd, at 1:52, placing 27th.

That was a strong ride by the 20-year-old neo pro over 151.2km from Taboada to Chantada. The Tyrone man proved among the strongest portion of the field today and limited his losses well when Tour de France champion Vingegaard turned the screw on the final 8km of climbing.

The race continues tomorrow with another undulating 173.2km stage from Xinzo de Limia to Castelo de Ribadavia, though with the final climb crested almost 20km from the finish.

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