Magnus Sheffield (USA) was in a good position to finish high in the elite men's individual time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, on Sunday. However, an accident occurred when he hit a barrier during a turn. However, the 20-year-old lost his chance when he crashed hard into the barriers during a turn. He recovered and finished the race, but finished 17th behind gold medalist Tobias Foss.

Sheffield was fourth fastest at the second time check, covering 24.5 km of the 34.2 km route, 16 seconds ahead of third-placed Remco Evenpole (Belgium). However, he entered the turn too fast and hit a metal barrier, which he crossed.

Recovering himself from the flood of emotions and bitter disappointment, Sheffield told the media gathered in the mixed zone. 'I know it's going to be tough because we've been through a lot this season. And I wanted to come here and get a result. I think I got off to a very good start. I just got a little too greedy in one of the corners."

Canada's Allison Jackson also crashed in the same corner in the elite women's time trial, which Sheffield described as particularly tough.

"I cut a little too much on the apex. I'm always trying to find a balance between not getting too hot in the corners, but still having momentum going through them. I just got too hot and ran wide out.

"I hit the barriers pretty fast, but I was able to get back on the bike and finish. It will probably hurt a lot, but I still have a road race to look forward to."

Sheffield, who won the Brabantse Pijl this spring and recently won the Tour of Denmark time trial, joins Ineos Grenadiers this year for his first professional season on the World Tour. 2019 as a junior. After winning a bronze medal in the road race, Sheffield is still a prospect in Sunday's elite men's road race and was already looking ahead to this season.

"I have to make this a learning experience for the future. My career is long and this won't be my last.

"I think I prepared very well for this race. I was confident. I felt that a lot of the pressure going into this race was the expectations of myself. I had done pretty well in other time trials. It is really important to ride within your ability and gradually increase your speed. That's the secret of time trials.

Sheffield could at least take solace in the fact that he was able to go to Australia. Lawson Craddock was scheduled to participate in the elite men's time trial, but ran into problems getting an entry visa. Craddock was 20 minutes late getting on the plane. [2019 Junior World Champion Quinn Simmons and Olympian Brandon McNulty were absent due to fatigue, Matteo Jorgenson was held back by the Movistar team to chase points to the 2023 UCI World Tour, Kevin Vermaquet (Team DSM ) and Sean Quinn (EF Education - Easy Post) were also absent.

Scott McGill (Wildlife Generation) and Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz Bicycles) were called up to replace them. Swenson won the Leadville 100 MTB, has been a crusher in Tushar, Unbound, and Sea Otter, and is the leader of the Life Time Grand Prix. Before leaving for Australia to compete in the elite men's road race, he placed third at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival on Saturday.

Kyle Murphy (Human Powered Health), Neilson Powles (EF Education-Easy Post), and Sheffield will make up the US men's team next Sunday.