Several Irish pro riders get season underway in significant races this week

Darren Rafferty gets his season underway in coming days, with several riders starting their 2025 campaign in significant stage races (Photo: Billy Ceusters)

The Irish pros have already been in action in Australia, Europe and the Middle East, though others are limbering up to get into racing action in the week ahead when some key stage races take place.

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondial) is down to kick off his 2025 campaign, his second with the French World Tour team, at Etoile de Bessèges (2.1) on Wednesday.

The Carrick-on-Suir man will be looking to get his efforts off to a good start and may get his chance as early as the opening stage into Bellegarde after 159km of racing.

Though there is a short and steep kicker to the line, those sprinters who are versatile and are in form will be able to compete for victory, once the stage comes down to a bunch sprint.

Advertisement

Mia Griffin, who is back in the World Tour fold with Roland this season, goes to UAE Tour this week, getting underway for four stages of racing. Three of those stages - 1,2 and 4 - look good for the sprinters, crosswinds allowing, which can suit Griffin.

Related News

The Kilkenny rider already has a World Tour podium on her palmares, at Tour of Guangxi (1.WWT) in 2023. Having missed a chunk of the road season last year due to concussion, she then stormed back to action in the team pursuit at the Olympics and also won Rás na mBan overall on home roads.

This year promises to be the first season that will offer Griffin and extended block of professional road racing and it can be a big campaign for her.

Lara Gillespie has already been in action, in the Mallorca week of racing, for her UAE Team ADQ World Tour squad and she is penciled in to go again at UAE Tour.

Last, but definitely not least, Darren Rafferty gets his second season for EF Education-EasyPost underway at Etoile de Bessèges. He is part of a team line-up that also includes Richard Carapaz so may be restricted by team duties.

However, the Co Tyrone rider's US-registered team generally shares the opportunities, especially early in the season. That means Rafferty might get a chance himself to go in the breakaways or target a result in the finals.

Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) are also both provisionally down to ride Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana (2.Pro). It starts on Wednesday for five stages of racing and will look to compete in some of the sprints.