Junior time trials: Gustav Wang takes another Danish gold, Alena Ivanchenko beats back Zoe Bäckstedt

BRUGES, Belgium (VN) — Gustav Wang gave Denmark its second gold medal in as many days, smashing the junior TT by 20 seconds over his nearest rival.

Wang was the 23rd of 79 starters to roll down the ramp in Knokke-Heist and had a long wait in the “hot seat” to be crowned champion. It would be a tense wait with some of the pre-race favorites, including European junior TT champion Alec Segaert (Belgium) setting off in the final group of riders.

In the end, nobody could best Wang’s time of 25:37.42 on the 22.3km course. Britain’s Joshua Tarling scored the silver medal while Segaert had to settle for bronze at 29 seconds behind the winner.

Wang is the second Dane to take home a rainbow jersey after Johan Price-Pejtersen won the under-23 men’s TT. At 18, he is in his final year as a junior and he was happy to finally have his chance after the junior events were canceled in 2020.

“It feels amazing. I dreamed about this since I won nationals the first time in 2019 in junior and it was canceled last year. So, it feels really good to prove that I’m the best in the world,” Wang said. “It’s just amazing to have two Danish guys on the top of the podium in u23 and junior.”

"It feels really good to prove that I´m the best in the world" – Gustav Wang#Flanders2021 pic.twitter.com/231WETE0Vv

— UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 21, 2021

Ivanchenko beats Bäckstedt in junior women’s TT

Zoe Bäckstedt sat in the “hot seat” until the very last rider in the junior women’s time trial Tuesday.

The 16-year-old Bäckstedt, daughter of Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Bäckstedt, was among the top favorites for the rainbow stripes in the third day of racing at the UCI road world championships.

Russian rider Alena Ivanchenko had other ideas.

Starting last, Ivanchenko confirmed her European junior world time trial win earlier this month was no fluke, and eked out a 10-second winning margin.

“I am very happy. It is very cool to have this jersey,” she said. “The part of the course on the pavé it was very hard for me. This course is not good for me because I prefer more mountains, so to win today is very nice.”

Ivanchenko, 17, stopped the clock in 25 minutes, 5 seconds (46.166kph) to win. Antonia Niedermaier of Germany was third at 25 seconds slower.

“I am happy with it, and disappointed because I didn’t get the win, that’s what everyone comes here for,” Bäckstedt said. “To be 16, and this is my first worlds, so I have to be happy with being on the podium. I got some messages from my dad in the morning to say good luck, but it would have been nice to see him at the finish. I want to have fun racing my bike.”

American Olivia Cummins punched into the top-10 with eighth, at 2:15 back. U.S. junior time trial champion Makayla MacPherson was 32nd among 55 starters.

Juniors racing — back at the world championships after being sidelined in 2020 — continues Tuesday with the junior men’s time trial.

https://twitter.com/BritishCycling/status/1440269412355903496?s=20