Irish champion Darren Rafferty is excited for his second season in the WorldTour. In his rookie year, he won the Irish road race title, finished his first grand tour at the Vuelta a España, and discovered a whole new realm of watts, while riding for his teammates throughout the season.

Darren is a talented climber. In the under-23 ranks, he won the Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta-Mont Blanc, finished second at the Giro d'Italia Giovani Under 23, and came fifth in the U23 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He doesn’t just fly up mountains. He is also a strong time trialist, with two Irish U23 titles to his name.

Darren’s future knows no bounds. He might become a GC contender or find that he is better suited to the hilly classics. For now, he wants to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way.

That is what he has been doing ever since he was a little kid. Darren started out racing U10 cyclocross races back in Ireland. As he got bigger and faster, cycling became more and more of a priority. In his late teens, Darren decided to go to France to race and pursue his dream of turning pro instead of accepting a place at university, where he had applied to become an accountant. It wasn’t an easy choice, but Darren’s bravery paid off, and now he has the chance to show the whole world what he can do on a bike.

He lives in Girona, where he and his tight-knit crew of WorldTour buddies train throughout the year. They get ready for the races on long group rides through the local hills, sprinting for town signs and doing their efforts on the climbs. That keeps it fun.

Once the commissaire’s flag drops, Darren is a fierce competitor.