September 29, 2010 (Geelong, Australia) – The 2010 Road World Cycling Championships opened today in Geelong, Australia with the Espoir men’s 31.8km Time Trial. The 15.9km course, which is nearly identical to the one that will be used for the Elite road races, is nothing like the flat sprinter’s route that was initially thought. Two very steep climbs, a narrow winding descent, and windy coastal roads made this a TT for a true all-around rider.

Australian Luke Durbridge, the 7th starter, set a very fast time of 42:52 despite early heavy rain on parts of the course. As rider after rider finished well in arrears of Durbridge, the local partisan crowd began to hope – and that hope became near confidence when race favourite, American Taylor Phinney’s first time split, was over 30 seconds slower.

Surely if Phinney could lose that much time over 6.6kms on dry roads Durbridge was a shoe in for the rainbow jersey. But the gap came down with each time split and at the final check Phinney only 4 seconds back. In the end local fans were heartbroken as America’s 20-year star won the U23 Men’s TT by 1.9 seconds.

Phinney who joins the pro ranks with team BMC next year commented, “To come here and win the time trial, I couldn’t ask for more, it’s just been an incredible year.” Durbridge was asked if he thought Phinney’s dry racing conditions gave him an advantage and the silver medalist replied, “Although I raced in wet conditions, Phinney had to deal with more wind so the differences would negate each other.”

Durbridge, at 19 years and 173 days, became the youngest rider to win an U23 Men’s world time trial medal – 33 days younger than when Fabian Cancellara (Sui) won silver in Plouay, France 10 years ago. Germany’s Marcel Kittel recovered from a slow start to earn the bronze.

Canadians David Boiley and Hugo Houle finished 25th and 32nd respectively. Boiley told us he was satisfied with his TT result and “…is looking forward to the U23 road race.”

Full results here