Junior Ladies World Road Race – Zurich

VC Glendale Academy rider Aine Doherty proudly represented Ireland for the second consecutive year at the Junior World Road Race Championships, this time held in Zurich, Switzerland. Competing as part of a three-rider team, Aine played a crucial role in helping her teammate, Lucy Benezet Minns, secure an impressive top ten finish.

The race day presented challenging conditions, starting off in the rain with temperatures hovering around a chilly 14 degrees Celsius. The peloton launched at a blistering pace, maintaining high speeds throughout the race. Early crashes influenced the dynamics, leading to several breakaways. Aine, alongside her teammate Aliyah Rafferty, worked tirelessly to keep Minns positioned near the front of the pack.

As the race progressed, excitement built with only 20 kilometers remaining, as Minns found herself in the leading group, fiercely competing for the gold medal. However, the race took a decisive turn on the day’s toughest climb, featuring a grueling 20% gradient. At this point, three leaders broke away, with Great Britain’s Cat Ferguson ultimately taking the gold.

In the end, Lucy finished in a commendable 10th place, while both Rafferty and Doherty crossed the line just a few minutes later, riding in the chasing groups that formed from what remained of the peloton.

At just 18 years old, Aine has already accumulated significant experience on the world stage and is now looking forward to advancing into the U23 category next year. Everyone at VC Glendale Academy is incredibly proud of Aine’s achievements and her dedication to the sport. Her hard work and determination continue to inspire our club and the wider cycling community.