Women's elite TT at Yorkshire World Championships pushed back due to weather conditions

Torrential rain blighted the men's U23 time trial this morning

(Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)

(Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)

The elite women's time trial of the Yorkshire World Championships 2019 has been pushed back 40 minutes due to the poor weather conditions that blighted the men's U23 time trial this morning.

A number of riders suffered heavy falls and the Belgians slammed the course, describing the conditions they had to ride in as 'dangerous'.

>>> Watch: Chaos reigns supreme at Yorkshire Worlds U23 time trial

The race will now start at 15.30 instead of 14.50, with gaps between riders setting off reduced from a minute and a half to a minute, to compensate for the delay.

In a statement, race organisers said: "Due to the heavy rains experienced this morning and considering the inclement weather forecast for the rest of the day, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the organising committee of the 2019 UCI Road World Championships have reviewed the conditions for this afternoon’s Women Elite Individual Time Trial race.

"Following the discussions, it’s been decided that the start will be delayed to 15:30 to allow water to be cleared. The organising committee and the county are deploying marshals to yellow flag areas with standing water and staff and vehicles are draining water on the roads to ensure riders’ safety.

"Gaps between riders will be reduced to 1 minute instead of 1’30 so that the finish time comes close to the original schedule. The UCI and Yorkshire 2019 will continue to monitor closely the events and take any appropriate decisions."

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.


Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).


I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.