Boom wins U23 time trial

Boom, a 21-year-old cyclo-cross specialist, swapped the muddy trails of his favourite discipline for the roads around Stuttgart's Killesberg Park to win the men's Under-23 time trial.

He finished the 38.1 km in 48 minutes 57.93 seconds at an average speed of nearly 47 kph. Mikhail Ignatiev of Russia, who had led at the first split, was second in 49:06.99, with France's Jerome Coppel third in 49:43.52.

Hanka then upset defending champion Kristin Armstrong to win the women's title in the day's final event.

Kupfernagel completed the 25.1-km course in 34:43.79 and sat biting her nails until Armstrong, starting last, finished her run more than 23 seconds down. Christiane Soeder of Austria was third in 35:25.32.

Boom is the Under-23 world cyclo-cross champion and he recently decided to specialise in that discipline rather than opt for a career on the road.

"I'm still happy with that decision," Boom said at a news conference. "I think the cyclo-cross helped me do a good time trial today. There you go fast for a full hour as well."

The elite men's time trial is on Thursday before a rest day on Friday. The women's road race is first up on Saturday before the men's Under-23 version. The men's elite road race closes the championships on Sunday.