29 Sep 2008

Dean 35th in peleton at world road cycling champs

7:39 am on 29 September 2008

The New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean has finished 35th in the 260km men's elite road race at the UCI World Championships in Italy.

The championship became a war of attrition with only 77 of the 203 starters completing the race which has been won by Italy's Alessandro Ballan who finished three seconds in front.

Dean finished eighth wheel in the peloton that included most of the sport's big names, including defending world champion and favourite Paolo Bettini of Italy and three time winner Oscar Freire of Spain.

Fellow New Zealander Glen Chadwick dropped out after he lost time with a puncture.