David Gaffney won bronze in the junior men’s road race on Friday to claim Ireland’s third medal at the European Road Cycling Championships in Drôme Ardéche, France.
The 18-year-old finished the 103km route 43 seconds back on Germany’s Karl Herzog in first, who clocked 2:44.34 on his way to gold. Italy’s Roberto Capello was second, crossing the line 13 seconds behind the 16-year-old German.
Ireland was well-represented in the event with six cyclists taking part. Conor Murphy, who won silver in the junior men’s time trial on Wednesday, finished 48th, six minutes 59 seconds behind Herzog. Matthew Walls was home in 68th, while there were DNFs for Hugh Óg Mulhearne, Rory Condon and Toby Sweetman.
In the junior women’s road race, Aliyah Rafferty and Ella Tandy finished 45th and 63rd respectively, Spain’s Paula Ostiz narrowly taking gold over Switzerland’s Anja Grossmann and Chantal Pegolo of Italy.
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And Ester Wong was best of the Irish contingent in the women’s under-23 road race, taking 49th ahead of Emma Jeffers (54th), Jucy Benezet Minns (65th) and Abi Conway (74th), gold going to Spain’s Paula Blasi.
