After his top-10 result in the time trial, Max Goold has led the way for the ARA Australian Cycling Team in the junior men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships.
Goold, from Blackburn Cycling Club in Melbourne, was Australia's top finisher after keeping himself in contention for most of the 119-kilometre race in Kigali, Rwanda.
The course was defined by two steep climbs, principally the 1.3-kilometre Cote de Kimihurura, a cobbled ascent with gradients of up to 11% that peaked just over a kilometre from the finish.
Goold takes a breather after an all-out junior road race. (Zac Williams / SWpix.com)
At the race's halfway point, when dangerous moves began going up the road, Goold bridged from the peloton to the main chase group in a powerful solo effort.
Although that group was shut down by the peloton, Goold kept himself well to the fore. On the second-last ascent of the Kimihurura, Goold was seen setting a fierce tempo at the front of the peloton.
After the race exploded on the final lap, Goold eventually finished in 23rd place behind the solo winner, Harry Hudson of Great Britain.
Sydney's Lucas Stevenson also featured near the front throughout, finishing just under under three minutes behind.
Lucas Stevenson in the peloton. (Zac Williams / SWpix.c0m)
In a brutal under-23 men's race later in the day, Queensland's Matthew Greenwood was Australia's top performer, finishing in 17th place.
Results – Junior Men Road Race
🥇 Harry Hudson (GBR) 2:55:19
🥈 Johan Blanc (FRA) +16
🥉 Jan Jackowiak +16
23. Max Goold (AUS) +1:34
29. Lucas Stevenson (AUS) +2:56
DNF. Alexander Hewes (AUS)
DNF. Fletcher Medway (AUS)
Results – U23 Men Road Race
🥇 Lorenzo Finn (ITA) 3:57:27
🥈 Jan Huber (SUI) +31
🥉 Marco Schrettl (AUT) +1:13
17. Matthew Greenwood (AUS) +7:11
DNF. Zachary Marriage (AUS)
DNF. Hamish McKenzie (AUS)
Feature photo: Chris Auld / SWpix.com