Rafferty 11th at Junior Time Trial World Championships
(Darren Rafferty at European Championships. Photo: Anton Vos-Cor Vos)
Darren Rafferty finishes in 11th place today at the Junior Time Trial World Championships in Flanders, Belgium.
After finishing agonisingly close to winning the bronze medal in the same event at the European Road Championships in Italy, Rafferty powered around the World Championship course today to finish just outside the top 10.
Rafferty was 1:06.25 down on the gold medal winner, completing the course in an average speed of 50.06kph.
The World title was won by Gustav Wang of Denmark, who went around the 22.30 kilometre course in a time of 25:37.42, for an average speed of 52.217kph, safely securing gold by 20 seconds from Joshua Tarling of Great Britain.
German rider, Alec Segaert claimed bronze by the narrowest of margins finishing half a second quicker than Carl-Frederik Bevort of Denmark.
Teammate Conal Scully finished in a time of 28:05.83 averaging 47.62kph to finish in 52nd position.
Speaking after the event today, Rafferty said:
“I’m feeling pretty good, I would have loved a top 10 today but I just didn’t have enough to get there today. I’m definitely satisfied with 11th as the preparation and planning up to the event was perfect and it gives me plenty of confidence going into the road race on Friday which will be a long and tough 122 kilometre race.”
Team Ireland’s World Road Championships continues on Friday, 24th with the Junior and U23 Men’s Road Races. The Junior and Elite Women will compete on Saturday while the elite men will compete on Sunday.