Meenhorst leads Kiwis at world road championships

New Zealand riders finished off the pace in the Under-23 road race at the UCI World Championships in northern Italy today.

Auckland’s Alex Meenhorst was the best of the BikeNZ riders in 62nd place, finishing just behind the peloton in the 180km road race over 10 laps in Varese in the foothills of the Alps.

Colombia’s Fabio Duate sprinted clear from the lead group of seven riders to claim the title from local hope Simone Ponzi (ITA), with a further five riders spread behind the peloton 33 seconds down on the winner.

Meenhorst, who has been riding out of the BikeNZ base in France, rode strongly before being dropped on the final lap, finishing 1min 35sec behind the winner.

New Plymouth’s Michael Torckler and Rotorua’s Clinton Avery, playing key support roles, were among the 62 riders who did not finish.

The women’s road race, featuring New Zealanders Jo Kiesanowski, Rosara Joseph and Kaytee Boyd, is tomorrow over 140km with the men’s race, with Julian Dean and Glen Chadwick, is on Monday (NZ time).

In an upset, Germany’s Bert Grabsch won the men’s time trial clocking 52min 01.6s for the 44km course to finish 43 seconds ahead of Canada’s Sven Tuft with American Dave Zabriskie third.

Result, Under 23 men’s road race, 180km:
Fabio Duarte (COL) 4:17.02, 1; Simone Ponzi (ITA) same time, 2; John Degenkolb (GER) same time, 3.
New Zealanders: Alex Meenhorst at 1min 35, 62; Michael Torckler dnf, Clinton Avery dnf.

Elite time trial, 43.8kmP: Bert Grabsch (GER) 52:01.60, 1; Sven Tuft (CAN) 52:44.39, 2; David Zabriskie (USA) 52:53.87, 3.