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American and Danish gold in first day of World Championships time trials

September 21, 2015
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An American stood on the top step of the podium for the second consecutive day at the Richmond, Virginia Road World Championships Monday. After Taylor Phinney’s BMC squad triumphed in the men’s team time trial Sunday, Chloe Dygart took gold in the Junior women’s time trial. Two Canadian women placed in the top-10. Dane Mads Wurtz Schmidt–2011’s Junior time trial champion–won the men’s U23 chrono later in the day.

Dygart benefited from an early start as the day grew windier, but it was her power that saw her finish over a minute faster than her runner-up compatriot Emma White. Dygart tore around the 15-km course, keeping wary of the pot holes, in 20:18, knocking Canadian Gillian Ellsay off the hot seat. Dygart had to wait while last year’s silver winner Pernille Mathiesen (Denmark) rolled the course. The Dane couldn’t make the podium, but Australian Anna-Leeza Hull repeated as bronze medalist.

Victoria, BC’s Ellsay and another Canadian, Banff, Albertoa’s Emeliah Harvie, both placed in the top-10 from 37-competitors, with Ellsay 8th and Harvie 10th. Their coach Denise Kelly was very pleased: “Our goal was a top 10 finish for the junior girls so to have two to attain that was very inspiring for the future. The junior girls team has a great attitude to add to their solid World’s preparation.”

The U23 men had 30-km to race the clock, and, like Dygart, Schmidt’s early start was in his favour. Schmidt was on the hotseat for three hours with a time of 37:10 and average speed of 48.4 km/h as the wind and rain picked up. Last year’s silver medalist, Irishman Ryan Mullen, found the conditions too arduous and placed 11th. Schmidt’s two podium-mates were German.

Canadians Sean MacKinnon placed 20th on the day, while Alex Cataford of Silber came 33rd.

The races of truth continue Tuesday with the Junior men and Elite women’s time trials. In the women’s race, Tara Whitten has an early start time and Karol-Ann Canuel, two-time team time trial gold medalist, is fourth from last to start.

2015 UCI Road World Championships Junior Women’s Time Trial
1) Chloe Dygart (USA) 20:18
2) Emma White (USA) +1:05
3) Anna-Leeza Hull (Australia) +1:26
8) Gillian Ellsay (Canada) +1:45
10) Emeliah Harvie (Canada) +1:49

2015 UCI Road World Championships U23 Men’s Time Trial
1) Mads Wurtz Schimdt (Denmark) 37:10
2) Maximilian Schachmann (Germany) +0:13
3) Lennard Kamna (Germany) +0:21
20) Sean MacKinnon (Canada) +1:36
33) Alex Cataford (Canada) +2:17