Adam Rafferty has taken the first general classification result of his career in a UCI-ranked stage race (Photo: Nassos-Triantafyllou)
Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco) has taken the first general classification podium result of his career in a UCI-ranked stage race after finishing 2nd on the final stage of Tour of Rhodes (UCI 2.2) today, which featured over 2,600m of climbing.
The 20-year-old from Co Tyrone was 9th in this race two years ago, while in his final year at school, and went back last year to take 5th. His result today is one of the best road results of his career, coming after last year’s stage win at Giro Next Gen and a bronze medal in the U23 TT at the European Championships.
On today’s final, and hardest, stage of the race in Greece, Rafferty was 2nd and also finished 2nd overall. The stage win went to Matteo Scalo (XDS Astana Development Team), who also took the overall title.
Scalo was 59 seconds up on a three-man chasing group, led in by Rafferty. The Irishman was just ahead of an EF Education-Aevolo duo; Colombia’s Juan Felipe Rodriguez and British rider Joshua Golliker.
As the gaps going into the final stage were so tight, with just seconds separating much of the field, the final general classification result mirrors that of the final stage today, some 157km into Kremasti.
David Gaffney (Hagens Berman Jayco) and Curtis Neill (Velo Performance) also rode strongly today, on a day when the last riders were 25 minutes down and a lot of riders abandoned. They were 37th and 39th, in the same group at 8:17.
Jack Conroy and Josh Callaly, both of Velo Performance, were also in the same group as each other; finishing 23:59 down in 72nd and 89th. Their 18-year-old team mate, Isaac Burman, was a non-finisher on today’s stage.
More to come.