Brent Bookwalter from the American team felt comfortable with his result in the U23 time trial in Salzburg on Wednesday, finishing 40th behind gold medallist Dominique Cornu from Belgium. "Not completely satisfied," as he explained after the finish, "but I can't complain, either. I did everything I could, I gave it my all, and now this result is what it is. Just physically, I wasn't feeling on my absolute top."
The 22 year-old said that the course suited his capabilities. "I liked the course, actually - I thought it was good for me," Bookwalter continued. "It might have been a bit too long, and I think a lot of the guys were in the same situation. The longest time trials I did this year were 30 kilometres, I might have done one of 40 once in my life before."
Asked what he had expected for this event, Bookwalter replied, "Originally, if you would have asked me a month ago, I would have said the Top 10. But my form dipped in a little bit, so now I think I'm here for the experience only."
The American was enjoying his first road cycling world championships, having participated already in the junior cyclo-cross and mountainbike world's. "It's great, being here with the American team against all of these nations; all the best cyclists in the world," concluded the young rider from Michigan, who will be changing to an U26 program next year. Bookwalter will not race the U23 road event on Saturday, so he might have a day or two to relax and enjoy the Austrian city.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
