Dungannon’s Darren Rafferty becomes the most marked Junior in France, but to no avail…just added 2 more stage wins, taking the Polka jersey and 2nd in the GC!!! this was last weekend in the “Tour Junior Causses-Aigoual-Cévennes” Darren’s team “31 Jollycycles u19” also won the team prize!!

Report Darren and all photos courtesy of William Cannarella Photography

Darren told us last night: “I had another great weekend of racing at the Tour Junior Causses-Aigoual-Cévennes 2day stage race taking place 50k from Montpellier. An 18th place finish on the 1st stage left me 46secs off the lead. I followed that up with 2 stage wins on Sunday winning the morning time trial and winning solo on the 3rd and final hilly afternoon stage. I ended up taking home the polka dot jersey for best climber and 2nd overall losing out on the overall win by 2 seconds after 200 kilometers of racing. We also managed another team classification win for Team 31 Jollycycles u19”

Note Dany: ” If I count right his tally in France is 9 wins individual, several team prizes in stage races, including a team victory in the “Coupe de France TT” and this all after a very serious injury earlier in the year!! Heard on the grapevine that Darren is also the 3rd ranked junior now in France (which has more than 1000 competitors) Looking forward to the Nationals in Wicklow beginning October and the battle expected with Dean Harvey from the VC Glendale Academy (the top-ranked junior in Ireland) who for the moment is the most marked and successful junior in Ireland…exceptional well done Darren, the future looks bright…be safe my young friend!