Storer Wins Bronze in Junior Time Trial

WAIS athlete Michael Storer has won a bronze medal for Australia in the men’s junior time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain.

In his world championship debut, Storer – the reigning under 19 Oceania time trial champion – secured Australia’s fourth medal of the week with a podium appearance behind gold medallist Lennard Kamna (GER) and second placed Adrien Costa (USA).

“To be right up there, at my first world championships, it is amazing,” said Storer, who started riding bikes at age 12 as his way of getting to school. “I am really happy with my ride, don’t think I could have gone any faster.”

Storer was the twelfth last of 69 riders to set out, and unlike yesterday’s wet and slippery conditions, dry roads greeted all starters for the 29.5km race against the clock.

At the first intermediate check, Storer was seventh fastest in 14mins 43.53secs, 21secs off the leading mark. At the second point, Storer had improved to fifth overall and continued his rise up the time standings over the final kilometres.

He crossed the finish line in 37mins 11.60secs which placed him in the silver medal position, just 13 seconds down on then leader Adrien Costa (USA-36:58.15).

It was a nervous wait for the Perth cyclist with 11 riders still on course, and it appeared he was set for silver until the final starter Lennard Kamna, (GER) set a time of 36mins 13.49secs to take gold and relegate Storer to bronze.

“It was relatively flat, there was one big climb towards the finish, I knew you had to give it everything you’ve got,” said Storer, who claimed the criterium national title in July and finished fifth in the time trial.

“It was fantastic to see Macey and Campbell yesterday, and I just wanted to give it my best shot, so it’s great to keep the good outcomes going for Australia.”

“It is the biggest thing I have ever done, biggest event I have been to, right at the top of my career now,” he said.

-CyclingAus (photo: Graham Watson)