The 17-year-old from Team Auto Eder wins the gold medal in the junior road race at the World Cycling Championships in Wollongong, Australia.
In a sensational finale to a remarkable season, German Emil Herzog crowned himself World Junior Road Champion. Herzog, who convinced in the decisive moments of the 135.6 kilometre long World Championship road race in Wollongong, Australia, with an offensive riding style, relegated the Portuguese António Morgado to second place in the final sprint and thus secured the coveted white World Champion's jersey with the rainbow stripes. For Herzog it was already the second medal win in the course of the World Championships: In the time trial held on Tuesday, the youngster from the ranks of the BORA - hansgrohe U19 junior team Team Auto Eder had won the bronze medal.
106 riders from 37 nations started the junior road race, which was characterised by numerous attacks from the beginning. However, the decision in the fight for the medals was only made on the last lap: In the final climb, Herzog increased his pace to catch up with the Portuguese António Morgado, who had broken away a few kilometres earlier. While no other rider was able to counter Herzog's increase in pace, the German finally managed to catch up with Morgado with three kilometres to go. In a thrilling 250-metre final sprint, Herzog then proved to be the strongest rider - and deservedly took the world title.
For Herzog, winning the title was the crowning achievement of an outstanding season: He had already won the Italian classic Giro di Primavera in April, followed by further victories in stage races such as the Cottbus Junior Stage Tour, the Peace Tour in the Czech Republic, the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour in France and the Grand Prix Rüebliland in Switzerland. In addition, Herzog became German road champion in the summer, German runner-up in the time trial and won the bronze medal at the European time trial championships. After Holger Loew in 1996 and Jonas Bokeloh in 2014, Herzog is now only the third German junior cycling world champion in history. For the Upper Bavarian team Auto Eder, Herzog's victory is the first road world championship title in the team's 15-year history. At the same time, the success is proof of the excellent work done by the WorldTeam BORA - hansgrohe with young talents.
Result World Championship Road Race Juniors
1 HERZOG Emil Germany 3:11:07 hours
2 MORGADO António Portugal gl. Time
3 VAN MECHELEN Vlad Belgium + 0:55 minutes
Result World Championship Time Trial Juniors
1 TARLING Joshua Great Britain 34:59 minutes
2 MCKENZIE Hamish Australia + 0:19
3 HERZOG Emil Germany + 0:33