New Zealand cyclists finish sixth

New Zealand riders Jason Christie and Georgia Williams made strong starts to New Zealand's campaign at the UCI road world cycling championships in Copenhagen today. (Tuesday)

Christie and Williams both finished sixth in their respective under-23 time trials through the streets of downtown Copenhagen, the opening races of this year's world championships.

20-year-old Christie was 12th through the first time check and worked his way to ninth fastest after the first lap at the 17.6km mark. He continued to lift his pace to improve to sixth in 44:47.61 for the 35.2km test. The event was won by Luke Durbridge, a member of Australia's world champion team pursuit combination on the track earlier this year, in a stunning 42:47.13.

The Ashburton rider was pleased with his performance in tricky conditions.

"It was pretty good,'' Christie said. "I think it could have been a little bit better but I am happy with sixth in the world for under-23s. I can't complain with that.

There was plenty of support for the riders in the opening races of the world championships in this cycle-centric city where 60 per cent of the population ride bikes, most of them as their primary means of daily transport.

It's Christie's only ride of the championships and he will now return home after enjoying a strong season in Europe.

He rode for the Chinese-owned Marco Polo Cycling team along with Timaru's Marc Ryan, as well as riding with the BikeNZ under-23 team and backing Julian Dean at the London Olympic Test event where he was the leading Kiwi.

Williams finished sixth in the 13.9km junior women's time trial to continue a strong season.

The Auckland rider won silver in the individual pursuit and was fourth in the team pursuit at the recent junior track world championships in Moscow.

The teenager started strongly to be fifth fastest through the 6.7km time check, 12 seconds off the top-ranked rider, but slowed over the second half of the 13.9km circuit to clock 20:02.58, which was 34 seconds behind winner Jessica Allen (Australia).

Tomorrow Linda Villumsen is in action in the elite women's time trial, while James Oram and Fraser Gough will compete in the junior men's time trial.
Results:

Men's under-23 time trial, 35.2 km: Luke Durbridge (Aus) 42min 47.13sec, 1; Rasmus Christian Quaade (Den) at 35.68sec, 2; Michael Hepburn (Aus) 46.47, 3. Also: Jason Christie (NZL) 2:00.48, 6.

Junior Women time trial, 13.9 km: Jessica Allen (Aus) 19min 18.63sec, 1; Elinor Barker (GBR) at 1.84sec, 2; Mieke Kroger (Ger) 2.80, 3. Also: Georgia Williams (NZL) 43.95, 6.