Schmidt claims U23 World Championship time trial crown

Schmidt's time of 37 minutes 10 seconds left him 13 seconds clear at the top of the standings, with Germany's Max Schachmann second and another German, Lennard Kamna, third.

Norway's Truls Engen Korsaeth was fourth and Britain's Owain Doull finished fifth - though Doull will count himself unlucky to be among the later starters, who had to deal with severe wind.

It could have been worse for Doull. The final few riders - including USA's U23 champion Daniel Eaton - also had to deal with heavy rain as conditions got worse and worse. Eaton told cyclingnews.com that the wind was so strong it almost blew over distance marker banners at the side of the course.

Schmidt, one of the early starters in the best conditions, was thrilled to have won.

"This means everything. This year I have done a little extra in my training and my preparation, so it’s just … I can’t believe what I’ve achieved," he said.

"I knew the course pretty well. Nothing surprised me. I had all the corners in my head, and I knew how to do it and when to push hard. I had a good plan and I stuck to it and I won in the end...

"I’ve done a lot of special training, and in the headwind back from he bridge to was important to do good. I went into my aero position and just went full gas everytime, so that’s how we won."

Schmidt does not have a team for next season yet, but admitted afterwards that his manager had called to say congratulations and that "his phone is red hot" with offers coming in.

1. Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Denmark) 0:37:10

2. Maximilian Schachmann (Germany) 0:00:13

3. Lennard Kamna (Germany) 0:00:21

4. Truls Engen Korsaeth (Norway) 0:00:37

5. Owain Doull (Great Britain)

6. James Oram (New Zealand) 0:00:38

7. Miles Scotson (Australia) 0:00:41

8. Thery Schir (Switzerland) 0:00:42

9. Marlen Zmorka (Ukraine) 0:00:43

10. Daniel Eaton (United States of America) 0:00:44