2024 World Cycling Championships: Seixas new junior time trial world champion

With an average speed of 53 km/h over 24.9 flat kilometres in Zurich, Paul Seixas raced to the junior world title in the individual time trial. At 17 years of age, Seixas is still one of the younger riders. But his rivals were unable to convert his age advantage into time. The Belgian Jasper Schoofs, who had already won silver in the battle against the clock at the European Championships a week and a half ago, needed six seconds more than Seixas. Third place went to another Belgian, Matisse Van Kerckhove. In the end, he was seven seconds behind the new world champion.

In the end, European champion Michiel Mouris (Netherlands) had to admit defeat just as clearly as the two German aces Paul Fietzke and Ian Kings. Mouris finished 15th, Kings was the best German in 13th place. Fietzke, who had won bronze at the European Championships and was therefore a medal hope for the German Cycling Federation, even had to settle for 22nd place, 1:20 minutes behind. A total of 66 riders took part in the race.

One rider who had not expected his result was world champion Seixas, who as third in the European road race had rather pinned his hopes on the World Championships. "I didn't have a specific goal, I just wanted to deliver the best time trial of my life," said the Frenchman in the winner's interview. And he probably succeeded. "To be world champion now is a dream I never dreamed of. But I'm looking forward to being able to sing the anthem right now." Already riding for the team's U19s, Seixas will be part of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale's World Tour squad next year.

>> Routes and schedule of the 2024 World Cycling Championships

World Cycling Championships 2024 results: Individual time trial juniors - the top 10

1. Paul Seixas (France) 28:08 minutes
2. Jasper Schoofs (Belgium) +0:06
3. Matisse Van Kerckhove (Belgium) +0:07
4. Wiliam Holmes (Australia) +0:15
5. Seth Dunwoody (Ireland) +0:24
6. Albert Philipsen (Denmark) +0:25
7. Lorenzo Finn (Italy) +0:26
8. Carl Emil Pedersen (Denmark) +0:35
9. Ashlin Barry (USA) +0:41
10. Conor Murphy (Ireland) +0:42