Magnus Sheffield (USA) was on track for a top result in the UCI Road World Championships elite men’s individual time trial in Wollongong, Australia on Sunday. However, a spectacular crash into the barriers in a turn wrecked the 20-year-old’s chances. Although he got back up and finished the race, it was in a distant 17th place behind gold medalist Tobias Foss.
Sheffield was fourth-fastest at the second time check after 24.5 kilometres of the 34.2km route, 16 seconds behind third-placed Remco Evenepoel (Belgium). But went in too hot into a turn and crashed into and over the metal barriers.
“I got a really good start and then I just got a bit greedy in one of the corners,” Sheffield told Velonews after gathering himself amid intense disappointment.
“I’ll just use this as a learning experience going forward. I have a long career ahead of me, so I shouldn’t let it affect me too much.”
Here’s the crash & he got back up & rode on #UCI bike races #Wollongong – Incredibly exciting 😎 pic.twitter.com/d4TeEfJS7jSeptember 18, 2022
Sheffield could at least be consoled in making it to Australia. Lawson Craddock was scheduled to take part in the elite men’s time trial but ran into problems obtaining a visa to enter the country. His paperwork went through 20 minutes too late for Craddock to board his flight.
The country is also missing several other top riders from its intended roster: 2019 junior world champion Quinn Simmons and Olympian Brandon McNulty begged off citing fatigue, while Matteo Jorgenson was kept back by his Movistar team to chase points toward the 2023 UCI WorldTour, as were Kevin Vermaerke (Team DSM) and Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost).
Scott McGill (Wildlife Generation) and Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz Bicycles) were called up in their stead. Swenson, leader of the Life Time Grand Prix after winning the Leadville 100 MTB, Crusher in the Tushar, Unbound and Sea Otter, finished third in Saturday’s Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival before his departure for Australia where he will compete in the elite men’s road race.
Kyle Murphy (Human Powered Health), Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), and Sheffield round out the USA men’s team for next Sunday.
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