TRACK CYCLING

Gough sets New Zealand cycling campaign into action

By Sports Media NZ Ltd

National champion Regan Gough finished mid-pack in 22nd place in the under-23 men’s time trial on the opening day of the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Bergen, Norway.

Gough, who rides for the An Post-Chain Reaction Continental team in Europe, finished 2:40 behind runaway winner Mikkel Bjerg (DEN).

The Danish rider had set the tempo two starters ahead of Gough over the 37km course including the much-talked about ascent over the steep Birkelundsbakken climb, 13kms from the finish.

Gough started conservatively, 50th at the first time check and still only 35th fastest at 16kms. But from that point the Rio Olympian on the track turned up the heat, and was one of the fastest for the second half of the course over the final 21kms including the climb.

The Hawkes Bay rider finished in 49.46.78 with an average speed of 44.83kph.

Gough now turns his attentions to the under-23 men’s road race where he is joined by Cambridge rider Sam Dobbs and Hawkes Bay’s Luke Mudgway for the 191km race on Saturday (NZ time).

Tomorrow sees Auckland’s Oscar Elworthy and Ben Hamilton, both members of the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Performance Hub, compete in the junior men’s time trial, before 2015 world champion Linda Villumsen takes on the elite women’s time trial, both over 21kms without the noted Birkelundsbakken climb.

Results, Under-23 Men Time Trial, 37.2km: Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) 47:06.48, 1; Brandon McNulty (USA) 48:12.40, 2; Corentin Ermenault (FRA) 48:23.13, 3. Also: Regan Gough (NZL) 49:46.78, 22.
CAPTION: Regan Gough in action during the under-23 men’s time trial at the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Norway today.

The image is free for editorial use only. Credit: Robert Jones
Details: www.cyclingnewzealand.nz or www.uci.ch