Christian closes successful day at Worlds for team GB

Mark Christian closed a solid day for Great Britain at the World Championships in Copenhagen. The Manx cyclist raced to 30th place in the under-23 men's time trial, after Elinor Barker won a silver medal in the junior women's event this morning.

"To be honest, I haven't really done so much time trial races this year," he told Cycling Weekly. "I've done more road races, I finished Tour de l'Avenir last week."

He covered the 35.2-kilometre course in 45 minutes and 46.64 seconds. Winner Luke Durbridge covered the course in 42 minutes and 47.13 seconds to place ahead of home rider, Dane Rasmus Christian Quaade and fellow Aussie, Michael Hepburn.

Hepburn crashed after his front wheel slid from under him. He re-mounted and was able to finish with the provisional best time. Quaade and then Durbridge topped his time. Durbridge raced the under-23 Worlds last year, placing second to American Taylor Phinney.

"This is my first time trial at the Worlds," Christian added, warming down on a trainer outside team Sky's bus.

"Technically there wasn't much, it was pretty straightforward course. The thing that was tricky was the wind. In the tall buildings you never really knew where it was going to come from. It would be coming from different angles all the time."

The 20-year-old will form part of Great Britain's under-23 team in the road race in four days, on Friday. He talks in the same, almost unrecognisable accent as Manxman Mark Cavendish, but explained he is not a sprinter. He sees himself more as an all-rounder, a cyclist for a course where attrition plays its part.

After the road race, he hopes to have a night out with his team-mates and then return to focus on racing the national track championships. Next year, he will remain with the British programme, but start thinking about turning professional in 2013.

"Down the line that's where I want to be," said Christian. "I want to make a career out of it."

Related links

Durbridge wins under-23 TT world title for Australia

Barker takes silver for GB in Worlds junior TT

Road World Championships 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index