Mads Wurtz Schmidt of Denmark cycles to win the time trial men's junior event at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Copenhagen Tuesday. — ReutersCOPENHAGEN – Denmark's Mads Wurtz Schmidt handed the host its first gold medal of the Road World Cycling Championships Tuesday when he powered to victory in the junior men's time trial. Schmidt, 17, clocked a winning time of 35min 07sec for the 27.8 km course, held over two laps in Copenhagen, to leave 18-year-old New Zealander James Oram in the silver medal position. Oram had set the early pace in 35:11. Australian David Edwards, 18, stopped the clock at 35:28 to secure the bronze medal. Tony Martin will take inspiration from his recent beating of world time trial king Fabian Cancellara when he aims to end the Swiss's reign at the worlds. But the German specialist won't be alone, with Bradley Wiggins, compatriot Bert Grabsch and Cancellara himself all out to triumph in the 46.4 km race against the clock Wednesday. One-day classics king Cancellara rode into the history books last year when he won a record fourth time trial rainbow jersey at Geelong, Australia. Martin, however, has been knocking on the Swiss star's door for several years and forced his way in with a sensational victory at the Tour of Spain several weeks ago. On the 10th stage around Salamanca, a 47 km time trial, he beat the man known as ‘Spartacus' by 1min 27sec. Britain's Chris Froome was second at 59, with compatriot Wiggins third at 1:22. Rumor has it that Cancellara is not in his best possible condition for the race, held on two laps of a mainly flat but slightly technical 23.2 km circuit. The Swiss may also fancy his chances in Sunday's blue riband event of the road race, described – because of it's flat profile – as a ‘sprinter's course'. Although Martin won't rule out the four-time champion, he believes Wiggins and his teammate, David Millar, will be his biggest obstacles to gold.
