2015 Worlds: Upset at Jr Men’s TT

Two laps around Richmond would determine the Junior Men’s time trial gold medalist. Would it be American Adrien Costa, runner up in Ponferrada, fired up to be riding on home soil? Michael Storer, the 2014 bronze medalist? A dark horse?

Brandon McNulty set off down the ramp about halfway through the 57 competitors to thunderous applause from the crowd.

His time of 38:44 was strong but it was a full 59 seconds off from German Leo Appelt.

McNulty headed for the hot seat where he would wait in the second chair.

Everyone in the start house dealt with pre-race nerves differently. Below: Szymon Wojciech Sajnok.

Vadim Pronskiy.

Derek Gee.

Keagan Girdlestone.

Gee.

Girdlestone.

Gee, Canada’s Junior Men’s TT champion, slotted in at 27th overall.

Girdlestone put in a good performance but missed the podium by mere seconds.

Tobias Foss.

Niklas Larsen.

Storer.

Costa came through his first lap, having slowly whittled down the deficit to Appelt with each time check.

Foss crossed the line for 8th place.

Larsen one bettered the Norwegian and was 7th.

Suiterland’s Gino Mader mustered 5th.

For his second lap, Costa continued to ride strongly but was just off the pace to catch the German who went off earlier in the morning.

The American favorite earned his second silver medal today at 17 seconds behind Appelt.

You can almost expect one of the pre-race favorites to have a bad day. Yesterday it was Ryan Mullen in the U23 TT and today it was Michael Storer. The Australian finished in 13th, over 2 minutes back.

1st Leo Appelt

2nd Adrien Costa

3rd Brandon McNulty

Costa was clearly angry and disappointed with his result.

Appelt pulled on the rainbow jersey for the first time.

Both Costa and Appelt will move up to be U23s for the 2016 season.