David Gaffney has put in the performance of his life to take Ireland’s first medal in the road race at the European Road Championships (Photo: Toby Watson)
Just days after Team Ireland won two TT medals, David Gaffney has become Ireland’s first rider to medal in a road race at the European Championships in France.
The Co Waterford teenager has taken the bronze medal in the junior men’s road race, finishing behind winner and runner-up Karl Herzog (Germany) and Robert Capello (Italy).
The medal winners all finished on their own; Herzog 13 seconds up on Capello, with Gaffney claiming bronze, the biggest achievement of his career by some way, at 43 seconds.
Crucially, the Irishman held off a seven-strong chasing group by 13 seconds and with this medal coming after a very strong season in Europe, he has really put himself on the map for the U23 European scene next year.
With just over 30km to go in the 103.4km race in Guilherand-Granges, Gaffney had made the cut and was in the 12 man group off the front, a day when the undulating terrain split the field to pieces.
Though they were being chased by a small group at just 10 seconds, with another 10-12 riders only a further 23 seconds back, the business end of the race was well and truly underway the cream had risen to the top, in that front group.
Capello then made a move on his own from that front group and with 20km to go he had a lead nearing one minute over the 10 chasers, including Gaffney and eventual gold medal winner, first-year junior Herzog.
And it was Herzog who got across to the leader, before dropping him and going on to win the title. Gaffney, clearly full of riding all the way to the line, got away from the chasing group to finish solo and take the bronze; a mega day for him.
After his silver medal win the junior TT at these championships, Conor Murphy was 48th today at 6:59 while Matthew Walls was 68th at 10:44. Toby Sweetman, Hugh Óg Mulhearne and Rory Condon were non-finishers.
More to come.