United States finishes UCI Road World Championships as a top nation

[espro-slider id=45517]

The United States showcased strong performances in several events during the UCI Road World Championships, but not enough to win the event.

The Netherlands took home the gold, finishing with 545 points. France took silver with 430 points. The United States fell short of bronze by one point to Australia, who finished with 425. The United States completed the 2015 UCI Road World Championships with 424 points for fourth place.

The U.S. women’s team had strong showings during the UCI Road World Championships. Their solid performance could be a springboard for the sport and help women become the face of professional cycling in the U.S.

The U.S. junior women’s team made a name for themselves during the UCI Road World Championships. On Sept. 21, Chloe Dygert, an 18-year-old freshman at Marian University, covered the 9.3 miles in 20:18 for the gold in the Junior Women’s Individual Time Trial. She averaged 27.53 mph. Teammate Emma White of Delanson, New York, finished in 21:24 for the silver medal.

The Junior Women’s Road Race ended with similar results. Dygert won gold while White followed behind for silver, on Sept. 25. Dygert placed first in the 40.26 miles race with a time of 1:42:16. White finished with a time of 1:43:39.

The women’s individual time trials took place on Sept. 22. U.S. cyclist and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong, as well as former world champion Evelyn Stevens earned fifth and sixth place. Armstrong finished the 18.58 mile course in 40:50.

Teammate Stevens was six seconds behind, finishing with a time of 40:56.

American Megan Guarnier, who did not compete in the individual time trials, was able to clinch a spot on the podium, placing third in the Women Elite Road Race on Sept. 16. Guarnier finished the 80.5 miles course with a time of roughly 3:23:58. Stevens finished 19 minutes later for 24th place.

The U.S. junior women cyclists weren’t the only U.S. cyclists to earn medals in the Juniors Individual Trial. Adrien Costa, an 18-year-old from California, and Brandon McNulty, a 17-year-old from Arizona, earned silver and gold on Sept. 22. Costa finished the 18.58 miles course in 38:02. McNulty finished at 38:44 for third place.

Costa struggled in Men Juniors Road Race. On Sept. 16, Costa earned 18th place on the 80.5 miles course. His time was 3:47:00. He was the only American to finish in the top-50.

The U.S. men of the Men Under 23 Individual Time Trial had trouble competing against the Europeans. On Sept. 21, U.S. biker Daniel Eaton came in tenth after he finished the 18.58 miles course. The race was close for the finishers – Eaton was a second shy of ninth place and two seconds away from eighth. Eaton crossed the finish line at 37:54.

With a time of 38:04, Gregory Daniel rode in 47 seconds behind Eaton, for 19th place.

The Men Under-23 Road Race proved to be far more difficult for the Americans. Eaton barely made it to the top 50, placing 48th. He road a time of 3:55:33 on the 100-mile course.

Of the two Americans racing in the Men Elite Individual Time Trial, both finished in the top 25. On Sept. 23, Taylor Phinney completed the 33.2 miles course in one hour, four minutes and six seconds. Phinney was five seconds off from tenth and finished twelfth. Teammate Lawson Craddock finished in one hour, four minutes and 56 seconds for 22nd place.

More than 150 cyclists competed in the Men Elite Road Race. On Sept. 27, American Alex Howes came in twelfth place, 162. 4 miles later. His time was six hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds. Teammate Brent Bookwalter finished a few seconds behind Howes and earned 19th place.

Sophia Belletti, Staff Writer

Sophia is a sophomore journalism major who writes for the Odyssey in addition to the news, sports and spectrum sections of the CT. Sophia also works in sales at Nordstrom and likes hiking and going to concerts. // Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

bellettisr@commonwealthtimes.org