Second medal for Italy; Nicolas Milesi is candid: “I was aiming for gold”

Second day of competition at the World Cycling Championships in Canada and a second medal for Italy. Nicolas Milesi claimed the medal in the Under-23 individual time trial, completing the 31.3-kilometer course in 37’33”17, just 7”01 behind the new world champion, Ryan Gal of the Netherlands, who won in 37’26”16. Spain’s Hector Alvarez finished third, 11.88 seconds behind.

Milesi’s performance was one of steady improvement, as he remained among the leaders throughout. The Italian rider was in third place at the first checkpoint at the 10.7-km mark and moved up to second place by the 19.1-km mark, holding that position until the finish line.

In the end, there was inevitably some regret over a title that slipped away: “When you come this close—seven seconds is really very little in a race of this length—there’s still a bit of regret. I’m happy with my performance and the silver medal, but my goal was gold.”

This result came at the end of a season in which Milesi showed steady improvement: “This year I joined the Ineos development team, where I’m thriving. In March, I won a time trial at the Olympia Tour, a top-tier race for the Under-23s. I also finished seventh in the Giro’s time trial—which wasn’t at all suited to my strengths, with several climbs—and I managed to win the Poggiana race with a long-range attack. This World Championship event meant a lot to me.”

Further back was the second Italian rider in the race, Alessandro Cattani, who finished in 21st place with a time of 39’25”72, 1’59”56 behind the winner.