28 Sep 2009

New Zealand cyclists fail to make impact at World Championships

8:29 am on 28 September 2009

Only one New Zealand cyclist has made it to the end of the World Road Cycling championships in Switzerland with Hayden Roulston finishing the race in 96th place.

Two other New Zealanders started the race but Jeremy Vennell and Tim Gudsell failed to finish along with a swag of other international riders.

Australia's twice Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans won the event after breaking clear of Joaquin Rodriguez and Damiano Cunego six kilometres from the end of the 262.2-kilometre race, winning in six hours 56 minutes 26 seconds.

Russia's Alexander Kolobnev produced a late burst to finish second, 27 seconds behind Evans, edging Spain's Rodriguez into third place after a sprint for the line.