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Horrific conditions can’t stop Mikkel Bjerg from winning third consecutive U23 men’s chrono at Yorkshire Worlds

Americans plow through flooded course to earn two podium spots

The English weather almost derailed the Yorkshire 2019 Road World Championships on Tuesday, as torrential rain flooded the course so badly that the elite women’s time trial was pushed back and considered for postponement. Tuesday’s early chrono, the U23 men’s, was a real horror-show, but in the end Dane Mikkel Bjerg took his third consecutive title.

The Course

The Under-23 men would be the first to stray from the Harrowgate course. They would start in Ripon and complete one lap of the 13.4 km circuit made familiar on Sunday and Monday.

As on Monday the conditions were wet, but Tuesday they proved daunting and dangerous.

There were flooded areas.

Bjerg’s compatriot Johan Price-Pejtersen found out exactly how soaked the route was.

Hungarian Attila Valter came to grief, sliding an impressive distance and escaping injury.

It was a repeat performance for Bjerg, as the Dane retained his title with a time of 40:20. American Ian Garrison, who dried out on the hot seat for a long spell, took the silver, while his countryman Brandon McNulty, silver medalist at Bergen 2017, was third. Bjerg and Garrison are teammates at Hagens Berman Axeon, but Bjerg and McNulty will be teammates next season at UAE-Team Emirates.

Nick Zukowsky was the top Canadian in 32nd at +2:56, while Ben Katerberg was 43rd at +3:41.

2019 UCI Road World Championships U23 Men’s Time Trial
Gold) Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark) 40:20
Silver) Ian Garrison (USA) +0:27
Bronze) Brandon McNulty (USA) +0:28
32) Nick Zukowsky (Canada) +2:56
43) Ben Katerberg (Canada) +3:41