FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Severine Eraud of France won the junior time trial at the road cycling world championships on Monday, to add to her European and national titles.
Eraud was 2.69 seconds quicker than Australian Alexandria Nicholls over the 16.19 kilometer course, posting a time of 22 minutes, 42.63 seconds.
Another Australian, Alexandra Manly, was third, 8.17 seconds slower than Eraud.
Nicholls had been first on the course and held the lead for most of the day, as Eraud was the last starter. The 18-year-old Eraud powered through the second half of the course after being 13.5 seconds behind Nicholls at the intermediate check.
Eraud said “I knew I was only fourth fastest and so didn’t think I could win and was aiming for the podium. That made victory amazing and unexpected.”
