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Adam Rafferty of Hagens Berman Jayco secured his third consecutive Irish Time Trial (TT) title, claiming the U23 crown at the National Road Championships in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, organized by Lakeside Wheelers. This victory marks Rafferty’s second U23 title, having previously won the junior title as well. The 25.4km TT, held on a wet and challenging evening, proved tougher than expected for Rafferty, who described it as “a lot harder than I expected, to be honest.”
Fresh off a stage win at the prestigious Giro Next Gen, Rafferty entered the championships with confidence and momentum. He credited his recent success to his transition into full-time cycling after leaving school a year ago. This shift has significantly improved his endurance and mental resilience, allowing him to perform at a higher level in road races and manage the demands of professional cycling more effectively. “My TT is not much different to last year, but in the road races that extra endurance is the big improvement I’ve noticed,” Rafferty explained. He also highlighted the reduced stress of being a full-time rider, which has positively impacted his performance and recovery.
Rafferty’s victory was hard-fought, with fierce competition from other talented U23 riders. He finished 23 seconds ahead of Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Development) and 27 seconds ahead of Liam O’Brien (Lidl Trek Future Racing), both of whom also competed in the Giro Next Gen. Rafferty acknowledged the strength of the U23 category, emphasizing that the competition is decided by mere seconds and requires riders to maintain their top form throughout the race. “You can never be complacent. You can’t afford one second of rest,” he said, adding that the road race would likely be even more competitive.
The challenging conditions of the TT, including rain and strong winds, added to the difficulty of the event. Rafferty noted it was his first time competing in a TT in the rain, describing the course as particularly hard due to the cross-headwind on the way out and cross-tailwind on the return leg. Despite not riding the course beforehand—opting instead to view it from a car—he managed to adapt and deliver a strong performance. “I tried my best to go really hard and knew I could afford to lose a bit of time on the way back,” he said.
Reflecting on his recent achievements, Rafferty expressed how his stage win at Giro Next Gen had fueled his motivation. “It just makes me want to win and added that feeling of wanting to go for it again,” he said, describing the victory as surreal and special, particularly given the race’s significance. He also highlighted the camaraderie among Irish riders, noting that Dunwoody’s stage win earlier in the race made his own success even more meaningful.
Rafferty’s triumph at the National Road Championships underscores his growing prowess as a cyclist and his ability to compete at the highest levels of U23 racing. With his focus now shifting to the road race, he anticipates a tough but exciting competition, given the depth of talent in the U23 category. His recent performances, both domestically and internationally, suggest a promising future for the young rider as he continues to develop and make his mark in the cycling world.
