Craddock crashes but still finishes 5th in U23 time trial at Road Worlds
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Print Toscana, Italy (Sept. 23, 2013) -- The individual events of the 2013 UCI Road World Championships began Monday under clear skies and warm temperatures as the time trials for the U23 men and juniors women were contested.
Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Bontrager Cycling Team) was the top American on the day, placing fifth in the men's U23 time trial despite crashing during the race. Craddock's teammate Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Bontrager Cycling Team) finished 21st.
"It was not quite the time trial I expected from myself," said Craddock. "It was a pretty straightforward course, flat and straight for the first 35k until you hit Florence and then it was all over the place with cobbled streets and just left, right, left, right."
Craddock hit the pavement on a roundabout about 25 kilometers into the 43.46-kilometer race.
"My front wheel just slid out," Craddock said of the spill. "I think I minimalized time lost and I don't think it would have changed much, but it's a bummer to crash in the world championship, especially in the time trial where it's no one's fault but your own."
Craddock was the 19th rider to start in the 75-rider field and, despite the crash, his time of 51:31.35 was the fastest among the first 53 riders to cross the line, until eventual silver medalist Yoann Paillot of France bested it. Damien Howson of Australia, a bronze medalist in last year's event, posted the winning time of 49:49.97 to claim the rainbow jersey, 57.11 seconds ahead of Paillot. Denmark's Lasse Norman Hansen won the bronze medal with a time that was 1:10.13 behind Howson.
Craddock finished 1:41.38 back while Brown's time was 2:52.94 off the pace.
In the juniors women's time trial, Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, Minn./Gopher Wheelmen) cracked the top 10 with a seventh-place finish. Catlin finished the 16.19-kilometer course in a time of 23:03.35, which put her 20.72 off the pace of the gold medalist, Severine Eraud of France. Hanna Swan (Alpine, Calif./Strive Racing) placed 21st in the 47-rider field, 49.08 behind the winning time.
Both U.S. riders turned it on in the second half of the race to improve their positions. Catlin had the 28th-best time over the opening 8.5 kilometers, while Swan posted the 30th-best time over the same distance.
Eraud was joined on the podium by a pair of Australians. Alexandria Nicholls took the silver medal, while Alexandra Manly claimed the bronze.
The world championships continue on Tuesday with the individual time trials for the juniors men and elite women.
2013 UCI Road World Championships
Toscana, Italy
Sept. 22-29
FULL RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY
Juniors Women's Time Trial (16.19km)
1. Severine Eraud (FRA) 22:42.63
2. Alexandria Nicholls (AUS) +2.69
3. Alexandra Manly (AUS) +8.17
7. Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, Minn./Gopher Wheelmen) +20.72
21. Hanna Swan (Alpine, Calif./Strive Racing) +49.08
U23 Men's Time Trial (43.46km)
1. Damien Howson (AUS) 49:49.97
2. Yoann Paillot (FRA) +57.11
3. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) +1:10.13
5. Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Bontrager Cycling Team) +1:41.38
21. Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Bontrager Cycling Team) +2:52.94
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Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Bontrager Cycling Team) was the top American on the day, placing fifth in the men's U23 time trial despite crashing during the race. Craddock's teammate Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Bontrager Cycling Team) finished 21st.
Lawson Craddock shows the effects of a crash, but still finished fifth in the U23 time trial. (Photo by Casey B. Gibson)
Craddock hit the pavement on a roundabout about 25 kilometers into the 43.46-kilometer race.
"My front wheel just slid out," Craddock said of the spill. "I think I minimalized time lost and I don't think it would have changed much, but it's a bummer to crash in the world championship, especially in the time trial where it's no one's fault but your own."
Craddock was the 19th rider to start in the 75-rider field and, despite the crash, his time of 51:31.35 was the fastest among the first 53 riders to cross the line, until eventual silver medalist Yoann Paillot of France bested it. Damien Howson of Australia, a bronze medalist in last year's event, posted the winning time of 49:49.97 to claim the rainbow jersey, 57.11 seconds ahead of Paillot. Denmark's Lasse Norman Hansen won the bronze medal with a time that was 1:10.13 behind Howson.
Craddock finished 1:41.38 back while Brown's time was 2:52.94 off the pace.
In the juniors women's time trial, Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, Minn./Gopher Wheelmen) cracked the top 10 with a seventh-place finish. Catlin finished the 16.19-kilometer course in a time of 23:03.35, which put her 20.72 off the pace of the gold medalist, Severine Eraud of France. Hanna Swan (Alpine, Calif./Strive Racing) placed 21st in the 47-rider field, 49.08 behind the winning time.
Both U.S. riders turned it on in the second half of the race to improve their positions. Catlin had the 28th-best time over the opening 8.5 kilometers, while Swan posted the 30th-best time over the same distance.
Eraud was joined on the podium by a pair of Australians. Alexandria Nicholls took the silver medal, while Alexandra Manly claimed the bronze.
The world championships continue on Tuesday with the individual time trials for the juniors men and elite women.
2013 UCI Road World Championships
Toscana, Italy
Sept. 22-29
FULL RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY
Juniors Women's Time Trial (16.19km)
1. Severine Eraud (FRA) 22:42.63
2. Alexandria Nicholls (AUS) +2.69
3. Alexandra Manly (AUS) +8.17
7. Kelly Catlin (Arden Hills, Minn./Gopher Wheelmen) +20.72
21. Hanna Swan (Alpine, Calif./Strive Racing) +49.08
U23 Men's Time Trial (43.46km)
1. Damien Howson (AUS) 49:49.97
2. Yoann Paillot (FRA) +57.11
3. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) +1:10.13
5. Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Bontrager Cycling Team) +1:41.38
21. Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Bontrager Cycling Team) +2:52.94
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This Article Updated September 25, 2013 @ 05:30 PM For more information contact:
