Lucy Bénézet Minns and Aliyah Rafferty took to the Zurich roads this morning
Press Release on Day 3
Day three of the UCI Road and Para-cycling World Championships in Zurich and it was the turn of Lucy Bénézet Minns and Aliyah Rafferty to put on their green jerseys.
Competing in the Women's Junior Individual Time Trial, the Irish riders faced tough competition as 58 starters were ready to battle it out for a rainbow jersey.
The 18.8km circuit proved testing. Bénézet Minns finished in 13th place in a time of 25:16.30. Not far behind and in a time of 26:02.35, Rafferty finished in 28th place.
Victory went to Cat Ferguson for Great Britain. Ferguson was the only rider to break 24 minutes, coming home in 23:49.72.
Bénézet Minns and Rafferty will be joined by Aine Doherty on Thursday with all three riders racing in the Women’s Junior Road Race. Also racing on Thursday will be Patrick Casey, Seth Dunwoody, David Gaffney and Cal Tutty in the Men’s Junior Road Race.
Katie-George Dunlevy, piloted by Linda Kelly, will race tomorrow in the Women’s B Road Race. They will be looking to retain their World Titles for a second year running. Dunlevy and Kelly have shown brilliant form this month, winning Gold in the Women’s B Individual Time Trial at the Paralympic Games, retaining their World Titles winning the Women’s B Individual Time Trial on Sunday and claiming Silver in the Women’s B Road Race at the Paralympics.
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Also competing in the same race tomorrow and hoping to continue her upward trajectory is Josephine Healion, piloted by Eve McCrystal. Following an incredible career tomorrow will also mark McCrystal’s last elite race as a pilot.
Top 10 Finishes For Irish on Day 2 of World Championships
Irish success continued on the second day of racing at the UCI Road and Para-cycling World Championships.
Press Release on Day 2
Seth Dunwoody and Conor Murphy were first to take to the Zurich roads this morning in the Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial.
Both riders have gained valuable experience this season competing at Junior Nations Cup events. A strong performance from both riders saw them finish inside the top ten. Dunwoody finished in fifth place, in a time of 28:32.37.
Murphy stopped the clock in 28:50.73 to finish tenth. Both Irish riders were within 45 seconds of Paul Seixas for France who won Gold. 66 competitors took to the 24.9km route.
Speaking to Cycling Ireland Dunwoody reflected on the time trial:
“So today’s time trial was my main goal of the season. It’s a time trial that has been on the forefront of my mind for this past six-seven months due to how well the course suited me as well as my passion and love for the discipline.
“I managed to squeeze everything out of my legs today. Although not as much as I had expected but I can still be proud of this result. It’s my first major time trial championship and I hope to be at many more up fighting for medals.”
In the afternoon it was the turn of brothers Darren and Adam Rafferty. They were in action in the Men's Under 23 Individual Time Trial. They faced tough competition with 70 starters in the time trial. It was a technical 29.9km route giving the riders plenty to do.
Darren Rafferty came home in sixth place in a time of 37:44.22. Age 21, Rafferty, who is racing at World Tour Level with EF Education – Easy Post, recently completed the Vuelta and is a rider who is going from strength to strength on the world stage.
His younger brother Adam, 18, finished in tenth place, in 38:00.37. This result comes on the back of him winning the Men’s Under 23 Individual Time Trial Irish National Championship in June.
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Darren and Adam are not the only members of the Rafferty family competing at the World Championships, tomorrow will see their younger sister Aliyah race in the Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial alongside Lucy Bénézet Minns.