September 26/19 15:54 pm - Road Worlds - Junior Men's Road Race

Posted by Editoress on 09/26/19
 

The Road Worlds continued on Thursday with the first of the road races; the 148 kilometre Junior Men's competition.  The United States had another strong day, taking first and third, with Quinn Simmons riding solo for the final 30-plus kilometres to take the title.  Top Canadian among the four starters was Raphael Parisella, in 52nd place.

The race took the riders from the small town of Richmond on a broad curve through the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the finishing circuit in Harrogate, where the riders did three laps.  The first 105 kilometres was on narrow, twisting roads, with steep climbs - up to 25% - and equally difficult descents.

Jacob Rubuliak was the first Canadian to have difficulties; suffering a flat at the 40 kilometre mark that took a long time to service, since team cars couldn't pass on many sections of the course.  Once he received a replacement wheel, he managed to get to the back of the bunch and was then taken down in a crash.  He managed to get to the back of the field again just as they began the 25% Kidstones Bank climb, where the field split and he lost contact with the front bunch.

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At the front, five riders broke clear - Gianmarco Garofoli (italy), Alex Vandenbulcke (Belgium), Michel Hessmann (Germany), Sakarias Koller Loland (Norway) and Max Walker (Great Britain).  However, the U.S. team was vigilant, bringing the group back.  Walker tried again, solo, but the Americans pulled him back, as the constant efforts shredded the peloton.

Entering the 13.7 kilometre finishing circuit, Simmons and team mate Magnus Sheffield attacked, with three others going with them - Carlos Rodriguez (Spain), Lewis Askey (Great Britain) and Pavel Bittner (Czech Republic).  Italy was chasing, so Simmons attacked on his own, quickly building a 50 second gap as the remnants of the peloton caught the rest of the leaders.

Road Worlds - Junior Men's Road Race: Part two