Wil Holmes narrowly misses podium in Junior Worlds time trial

South Australian teenager Wil Holmes has come agonisingly close to a medal in the junior men’s time trial world championship, placing fourth in today’s race in Zurich.

The Men Junior Individual Time Trial was held the day after Grace Brown became the elite women’s world championn in the discipline. Sixty-six competitors from around the world contested the event along a flat, out-and-back course over 24.9 kilometres.

Holmes, who is the under-19 Australian champion in the time trial, covered the distance in a time of 28 minutes 23 seconds, clocking an average speed of 52.61km/h.

In a closely-fought race at the top, Holmes’ time was 15 seconds slower than the winner’s, Paul Seixas of France, and just eight seconds away from a bronze medal.

The Adelaide rider posted the fastest time at the first intermediate split, and was third-quickest at the next checkpoint, but slipped to fourth by the finish.

"Super happy with fourth in the world," Holmes posted on social media. "Could've have done anything more."

The result comes one month to the day since Holmes broke the junior men’s individual pursuit world record at the UCI Junior Track World Championships. He went on to take silver in that event, missing the word title by nine-hundredths of a second.

Alex Eaves was also in action today for the ARA Australian Cycling Team, finishing 46^th in a time of 31 minutes and 14 seconds.

The UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships will continue tonight with the under-23 men’s time trial, where Australia will be represented by Pat Eddy.

2024 UCI Road World Championships – Men Junior Individual Time Trial

1. Paul Seixas (FRA) 28:08.43
2. Jasper  Schoofs (BEL) +0:06
3. Matisse Van Kerckhove (BEL) +0:07
4. Wil Holmes (AUS) +0:15
46. Alex Eaves (AUS) +3:06

Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images