Craddock reaches podium at world junior TT championship

Lawson Craddock (Hot Tubes) of Houston, Texas, reached the podium of the UCI World Junior Road Championships for the second year in a row, finishing third in the individual time trial in Offida, Italy, on Friday.

The U.S. also enjoyed a top finish in the women’s race as Californian Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12) finished 10th.

Covering a 28.5km course in a time of 40:34.71, Craddock finished 28 seconds behind winner Bob Jungels of Luxemburg and less than one second off of the pace set by Jasha Sütterlin of Germany. Craddock, who posted the fastest split of the day at the first checkpoint, is the reigning junior men’s 17-18 national champion in the time trial, road race and criterium.

“Anytime you get on the podium at a world championship, it’s a good result,” said Benjamin Sharp, USA Cycling’s junior programs manager. “It wasn’t a course I felt suited Lawson 100 percent, and we knew it was going to be a challenge, but he paced himself well and he raced to win.”

Craddock’s bronze medal follows the silver he won in 2009 in the same event.

“To be in the top three in the world two years in a row is outstanding,” said Sharp.

The only other American to compete in the men’s time trial was Eamon Lucas (Specialized), who finished in 17th with a time of 41:58.18.

In the women’s time trial earlier in the day, Rivera pulled in a 10th place finish, covering the15.1km route in a time of 23:15.83. Teammate Jessica Prinner (ABD Cycle Club) landed in 13th, with a time of 23:29.36

Like Craddock, Rivera is the reigning U.S. road, time trial and criterium national champion in the junior women’s 17-18 division. She placed 16th in the Junior Worlds time trial last year. Prinner, who came in second behind Rivera at Nationals in the time trial, also improved upon her 2009 Junior Worlds experience, when she finished 21st in the time trial.

Events continue on Sunday with both the men’s and women’s road race events.

“Anything can happen in a road race, especially in a field of juniors this large,” said Sharp. “There is a challenging, exposed climb with a technical descent, and it finishes on the same small hill as the TT. It is a hard course, almost 130 kilometers, so whoever wins will certainly earn the victory.”

In addition to Craddock and Lucas, the men’s team will include Ryan Eastman (All Sport-Team Swift), Anders Newbury (Hot Tubes), Nathaniel Geoffrion (All Sport-Team Swift) and Paul Lynch (CL Noonan-Bay Hill Capital-Corner Cycle).

“I’m confident in this team’s ability. This is a similar team to the one we had at Trofeo Karlsberg, where we won. They are a well-rounded group, and while Lawson will be the leader on the road any one of them is capable of taking the lead,” said Sharp. “If we ride smart and have the kind of day we’re capable of there’s no reason to think we won’t be in the hunt late in the race.”

In the women’s race, Rivera and Prinner will be joined by Kendall Ryan (VRC-NOW-MS Society) and Kaitlin Antonneau (Team Kenda).

UCI World Junior Road Championships

Time Trial, Offida, Italy
August 6, 2010

Men’s Time Trial
1. Bob Jungels (LUX), 28.5 kilometers in 40:05.96
2. Jasha Sütterlin (GER), at 0:27.91
3. Lawson Craddock (USA), Hot Tubes, at 0:28.75

Other
17. Eamon Lucas (USA), Specialized, at 1:52.22

Women’s Time Trial
1. Canna Solovei (UKR), 15.1 kilometers in 21:30.36
2. Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA), at 0:05.13
3. Amy Cure (AUS), at 0:12.30

Other
10. Coryn Rivera (USA) Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12, at 1:45.47
13. Jessica Prinner (USA) ABD Cycle Club, at 1:59.00