Carmen Small didn’t have the race she wanted Tuesday in Qatar, citing heat conditions after finishing outside the top 10 in her specialty event.
Small, 36, placed 12th in the elite women’s time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Doha, Qater. She finished in 38 minutes, 39.19 seconds. American teammate Amber Neben of Lake Forest, California, placed first in 36:37.04 to earn her second world championship in the event.
“Didn’t have the best day on the bike,” Small said in a message to The Durango Herald. “Maybe my prep in Durango wasn’t the best weather-wise, but just wasn’t my day.
“I’m disappointed for sure, but can’t change it now and just need to move forward.”
Ellen van Djik of the Netherlands was second, and Australia’s Katrin Garfoot placed third. Forty women finished in the event.
Small, who competes for Cyclance Pro Cycling, will compete in the women’s elite road race Saturday. She is a two-time UCI world champion in the team time trial as part of the Specialized-lululemon team, and she placed third in the individual time trial in 2013. She is the defending national champion in the individual time trial.
Also Tuesday, the junior men’s time trial was won by American Brandon McNulty of Phoenix. According to USA Cycling, it was the first U.S. Junior World Championship since Taylor Phinney of Boulder won in 2007.
McNulty and Neben won the first two medals for the U.S. at this year’s competition. Neben’s second gold medal put her among only five other women to claim two UCI World Championships in the event, including Kristin Armstrong of the U.S.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
