Date: 10 March 2023
In 2022, the Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team was excited to announce the addition of Darren Rafferty, nine-time Irish National Champion across four disciplines: road race, time trial, mountain, and cyclo-cross at the end of the 2021 season. Darren joined the Axeon squad from Team31 JollyCycles U19.
“I’m super excited to be making the jump up to the continental level and joining the well renowned Hagens Berman Axeon as a first year U23,” said Darren. “I believe Axeon is the perfect team for me to progress and develop with the best atmosphere to get the most out of myself.”
The 19-year-old from Dungannon, Ireland considers himself strong in the individual time trial as well as hilly stage races.
“I’m looking forward to another great season with Hagens Berman Axeon and hoping to maximize all opportunities to win with the team at each race!” he said.
“Darren is a young rider that progressed very quickly through the junior ranks and now into U23 as well,” said team owner and director Axel Merckx. “He has great potential and showed it by finishing fourth at the European Junior Championships in the time trial. We’re talking about someone who wasn’t well-known initially and really went for the opportunity that was presented to him. With his aggressive style of riding he’s been a great asset to the team and I’m really excited about him staying with us for another year.
The Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team earned its second win of the 2022 season at Strade Bianche di Romagna when Darren Rafferty bested his rivals over the 155 km course in the Marche region of central Italy.
“It was a super hard race from start to finish, spending the first 30 minutes getting...
