With the World B Road Race and the World Team Time Trial completed, it was time for the U23 Individual Time Trial Champion to be decided on the Paarl Course.
Pre-race, the big debate was whether the course would favour a pure Time Trialist or the early climb to the first Checkpoint would push the race more towards a Climber. The list of favourites showed that the debate would be answered out on the road. Marlen Zmorka (2014 Silver Medalist) topped the betting charts, with Jasha Sutterlin (2012 Silver Medalist) and Pierre-Henri Lucuisinier a close favourite as well.
Tour de l’Avenir winner Lachlan Morton and fellow Aussie Jack Haig will be hoping that Climbing Ability will give them the edge over the opening stages of the route, whereas the likes of Ryan Mullen, James Oram and Fredrik Strand Galta will look to limit their losses before a long descent and flat ride to the finish.
Of the early runners, it was Yuriy Vasyliv who set the fastest time at the finish, and a good benchmark for the big favourites to beat -- 1h17’27
Back at the first checkpoint, and Jack Haig was showing that he was feeling good today, setting the fastest time so far over the climb.
Further down the route, Daan Oliver looked like he could be putting Vasyliv’s time under threat. Bettering the German at all the checkpoints so far, he would sadly fade in the last 10km to finish just 18” down. It was a good ride from the Dutchman who banked everything on the early -- 1h17’45
Second place last year, Marlen Zmorka would be looking to go one better in South Africa, but had a tough task ahead. Limiting his losses over the climb, he had only lost 48” seconds to the likes of Haig, Morton and Lucuisinier. Could the Ukrainian make it up over the rest of the course?
If Haig was riding well, then Pierre-Henri Lucuisinier was on par and looked like he would be battling the Australian to the Title. Through the first 3 checks, only a maximum of 6” had separated the two riders, with them changing positions as the fastest riders at each of them.
Into the last 10km of the race, and Haig did not look like he was showing signs of fatigue. Catching his 2 minute man, Ryan Mullen, it looked like at least a podium for the Australian. For Mullen, this was a race to forget, as the climb was clearly too much for the Irishman.
Quietly going about his business today, Carlos Verona was almost missed by the cameras during his ride. Crossing the line, he was the first man to better the result of Yuriy Vasyliv after a long day at the top of the German rider. Could Spain be coming away with a medal in the U23 ITT? -- 1h16'54
If Verona was going to be claiming a medal, it would not be Gold. Jack Haig instantly knocks him off top spot, storming the course in the process. Looking at the previous checkpoints, only Lucuinisier would be able to beat him. Their previous time gap was just 3” in favour of the Frenchman. -- 1h16’33
Knowing that just seconds could be the different between Gold and Silver, there was no respite from Lucuisinier. The pain was etched on his face in the last kilometre. Crossing the line, he looked at the boards to see the time of Haig. The Australian has egded it by ONE second! -- 1h16’34
The final rider to finish was Zmorka, who hoped that he hadn’t left too much on the climb earlier in the day. Gold and Silver were long gone for him, but his times showed that Bronze was still in outside chance. He finished strongly, and took 3rd place by 4” ahead of Verona.
And so, the 2015 U23 ITT Champion is Jack Haig of Australia. An outside favourite before the race, he gauged his effort to perfection over the 54.3km route, even catching his 2 minute man in the process. Pierre-Henri Lucuisinier takes silver, and will no doubt be disappointed that 1” was the difference in the end, whilst Marlen Zmorka should be happy with a bronze on a course that did not completely suit him.
Marlen Zmorka (2014 Silver Medalist) topped the betting charts, with 
Jasha Sutterlin (2012 Silver Medalist) and 
Pierre-Henri Lucuisinier a close favourite as well.
Lachlan Morton and fellow Aussie 
Ryan Mullen, 
James Oram and 
Fredrik Strand Galta will look to limit their losses before a long descent and flat ride to the finish.
Daan Oliver looked like he could be putting Vasyliv’s time under threat. Bettering the German at all the checkpoints so far, he would sadly fade in the last 10km to finish just 18” down. It was a good ride from the Dutchman who banked everything on the early -- 1h17’45
Carlos Verona was almost missed by the cameras during his ride. Crossing the line, he was the first man to better the result of Yuriy Vasyliv after a long day at the top of the German rider. Could Spain be coming away with a medal in the U23 ITT? -- 1h16'54
Daniel Turek
