Cycling: NZ road cyclists in top 20 at worlds

New Zealand riders Jesse Sergent and Jack Bauer achieved solid top-20 finishes in a strong field in yesterday's elite men's time trial at the UCI road world championships in Copenhagen.

Sergent, who has enjoyed success this year for his Radioshack pro tour team, was 18th fastest in 58min 10.16sec with Bauer one spot behind in 58:10.84. Both BikeNZ riders averaged a shade under 48km/h for the 46.4km journey.

Germany's Tony Martin claimed the overall honours, winning in a stunning 53:43.85, more than a minute clear of Great Britain's Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins and four-time world champion Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland).

Martin was so dominant he even passed Russia's Mikhai Ignatyev, who started three minutes earlier, averaging 51.8km/h which edged Cancellera's 2009 record speed.

The technical nature of the course and strong winds made for a stern test with Bauer pleased with his performance.

"Yes I'm satisfied. It was a pretty long and windy course so, yes, I am happy with a top 20 here, most definitely," Bauer said.

"It was a good line-up as it always is at a world championships but I guess it is always that much deeper in quality in a European-based world championships."

He will check out the road course tomorrow for the men's elite road race on Monday (NZ time) when he will ride in support of Kiwi sprinters Julian Dean and Greg Henderson.

"I feel good," Bauer said. "I don't feel tired. I am recovering quickly. I've got the legs and I am in good shape to be able to support Hendy and Julian."

Today is a rest day before the road racing begins tomorrow with the junior women and under-23 men. Auckland's Georgia Williams and Alexandra's Sophie Williamson will compete in the junior women's race over 70km.

This is followed by a strong Kiwi team in the men's under-23 race over 168km featuring Trek Livestrong professional George Bennett (Nelson), Tom David (Auckland) and James Williamson, brother of Sophie, who rides for Pure Black Racing.

The junior men and elite women compete on Sunday (NZ time) and elite men on Monday.