Bevin makes the top 10
Te Awamutu Sports cyclist Patrick Bevin has earned an outstanding top-10 finish in the individual time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.
The 27 year old was supported by club-mate Hamish Bond who finished in the top 25 after the 52.1km test from Rattenburg to Innsbruck including a 6km climb from the 30km mark.
Bevin, who has enjoyed an outstanding season for his BMC professional team, capped it with eighth placing in his first world championship time trial, while World Tour BMC Racing teammate, Australian Rohan Dennis, eclipsed defending champion Tom Dumoulin to claim the jersey.
It has been a breakthrough season for Bevin in his first year on the World Tour where he has full team support to ride the time trial.
“I have got to be pleased with that performance. I had a plan and while it was not perfect and I had to adjust along the way. It was pretty pleasing on what was a very challenging course,” said Bevin. “Right now I am the most sore I have been. The time trial courses for the worlds are changing to like this one, with big climbs and over 50kms which is longer. It was particularly tough this year and is trending towards longer, tougher courses that find the overall best rider.
“I learned a bit about myself out there as it was unchartered territory but it was nice that I could stick to it.”
Bevin said he was pleased with his climbing efforts although the descent on the more rigid time trial machine provided challenging moments.
“These bikes are not designed for their handling capabilities when you are hurtling around 100kph so you had to be on your best as we went through some small villages on the way.”
Bevin said it has been a breakthrough year with his win in the Tour of Britain, the team time trial stage win in the Tour de France and consistency with time trials at the Tour of California and Basque Country. Bond showed improvement from 39th last year to 25th as he makes the adjustment from world champion rower to cycling, at a time when the courses for time trials become significantly more challenging, racing at altitude, with climbs, longer distances and testing bike handling.
After a conservative start he was fourth fastest at the second time check, and inside the top-10 when he finished. Bond was 25th, 4:50 behind the winner.
He finished in the top half of the field with only Dennis, Bevin and American Joe Rosskoph of the non-European riders to go faster, and he was quicker than professionals including Tejay van Garderen and England’s Alex Dowsett.
Results: Elite Men Time Trial (52.4km): Rohan Dennis (AUS) 1:03:02.57, 1; Tom Dumoulin (NED) 1:21.09, 2; Victor Campenaerts (BEL) 1:21.62, 3; Michal Kwiatkowski (POL) 2:04.58, 4; Nelson Oliveira (POR) 2:14.34, 5. Vantage New Zealand Team: Patrick Bevin (NZL) 2:34.78, 8; Hamish Bond (NZL) 4:50.55, 25.