Time trial disaster for Harvey

Wanaka's Mikayla Harvey had a rough opening day at the world road championship yesterday.

The 20-year-old crashed while riding through a chicane just before the 9km mark of the elite women's time trial in Innsbruck, Austria.

It was an unfortunate start for Harvey, who is on debut at the event and riding for Team Illuminate.

She was taken for treatment of an injured hand. Team manager Jacques Landry said it was not serious and he expected her to start in Sunday's road race.

Fellow New Zealander Georgia Williams had a good start and placed 11th in her run.

The 25-year-old had only recently returned after fracturing her hip and pelvis in three places.

It was her first competitive individual time trial since May, when she won silver in the road race at the Commonwealth Games.

``I didn't put any expectations on myself because I haven't been back on the bike for long and I'm not back to full fitness yet, so I was surprised and pleased with the ride today,'' she said.

``I rode the team time trial a few days ago and thought it might take it out of my legs but I felt quite strong today, which was good.

``While I took the pressure off myself because of my build-up, when you get here and it is the world championships, then things ramp up a bit.

``It was my first worlds in the time trial as an elite, so overall I am quite pleased with that effort, really.''

Williams finished the course in 36min 58.64sec, holding her place after also being the 11th-fastest to the top of the 18km climb.

Her Mitchelton Scott team-mate, Annemiek van Vleuten, defended her world title in 34min 25sec.

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