Hamish McKenzie claims silver at world champs

The Launceston born cyclist had his hands on gold until he was upstaged by the red-hot favourite in the event. See the details.

Ryan Rosendale

@RosendaleRyan

less than 2 min read

September 21, 2022 - 4:31PM

Tasmania

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Tasmanian cyclist Hamish McKenzie has claimed silver at the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in the junior men’s individual time trial.

McKenzie blitzed the course with a 35:18.45 ride at an average of 48.941 km/h.

The 18-year-old was the virtual world champion for two hours and 57 minutes before his unlikely dream was crushed by British rider Josh Tarling.

WOLLOGONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Silver medalists Hamish Mckenzie of Australia, gold medalists Joshua Tarling of United Kingdom, and bronze medalists Emil Herzog of Germany, pose on the podium during the medal ceremony after the 95th UCI Road World Championships 2022. Photo by Con Chronis/Getty Images

The hot-favourite won the 28.8km event by 19 seconds over the 18-year-old Tasmanian with McKenzie upbeat on the podium despite coming so close to a world championship on home soil.

“At the start of the day, if someone said I’d be second, I really wouldn’t believe them,” McKenzie said.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to be where I am, I was hoping for on a good day maybe a top-10.

“It was so close … but I knew he was the big favourite – he’s (Tarling) been smashing everyone all year.

Australia's Hamish McKenzie heads to the silver medal in the men junior individual time trial cycling event at the UCI 2022 Road World Championship in Wollongong on September 20, 2022. Photo by William WEST / AFP

“To be honest, I’m happy to be this close to him and I think he’s been everyone’s goal all year. To sit (on the hot seat) until the very last person is always heartbreaking but I’m very happy, nonetheless.”

Described as a rider who has “so much mongrel in him” by coach Henk Vogels, the Launceston born cyclist’s ride was made even more impressive after he revealed he completed the race without the aid of a power data to gauge his efforts.

“From the start, my power metre wasn’t working, so it was just all by feel today,” McKenzie said.

WOLLOGONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Hamish Mckenzie of Australia poses on the podium with the silver medal after the 95th UCI Road World Championships 2022. Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images

“I think on a course like this with so many corners, you really don’t look at your power metre that much anyway.

“So, I think it probably suited me a little bit more to not think about the power and to just get my best performance out with how the legs were feeling.”