Some of Ireland's most promising young Irish riders endured a tough day out in Belgium and Croatia on Saturday, though Patrick Casey (Anexo Group Race Team) put in a solid shift at Danilith Nokere Koerse (1.1).
The first-year junior placed 49th on a day when the repeated short sharp climbs split the race to pieces, with 65 of the 150-rider field non finishers after 129.km of racing. However, fellow Irish junior Seth Dunwoody (Cannibal B Victorious) got his first taste of the rough side of international racing.
After placing 11th on his junior debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (1.1) in Belgium two weeks ago, and then winning the main event at the Annaclone GP in Banbridge, Co Down, last weekend, Dunwoody hit the deck hard at Danilith Nokere Koerse on Saturday.
Thankfully, he was able to pick himself up and resumed the race. However, his injuries were too much and he abandoned, though it appears there are no broken bones to report so he should bounce back very quickly.
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The race was won by British rider Jed Smithson (Fensham Howes-MAS Design), who was three seconds up on Lars Vanden Heede (Crabbé Toitures-CC Chevigny). Žak Eržen (Slovenia) won the sprint for 3rd place at seven seconds, with the main field splitting significantly on the uphill cobbled finish. Casey was 50 seconds back in 49th.
Over in Croatia on Saturday, Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) was in action on stage 2 at Istrian Spring Trophy (2.2). It featured a tough finish on a cobbled climb into Motovun after 173km of racing.
The stage was won solo by Tijmen Graat (Jumbo-Visma Development Team), with Rafferty finishing in 117th at 7:02. That was an under-par performance by Rafferty (19), who has been nursing an injury over the last few days.
He rode solidly on the opening stage of the race on Thursday, a 1.5km prologue in Vrsar, finishing in 42nd place at four seconds. On Friday's stage 1, Rafferty was 49th, finishing in the peloton just three seconds behind his American team mate Artem Shmidt, who won the stage.
