The sunny UCI Road World Championship time trial disappeared on Friday. Rain began to blow in at the start of the 135.6km road race in the morning, and by the time the men's U23 category got underway, it was soaking wet. The wet surface of the even-technical circuit was a nightmare for some racers, but a dream for others.

"Perfect," said Seren Wehrenskjold. While the weather was fine for the U23 time trial earlier in the week, the road race was hit by bad weather.

"We were hoping for colder temperatures and more wind, but it was a bit more stable, which was good. If it had been dry, I think the climb would have been tougher."

Wehrenskjold took an unexpected second medal of the week, finishing third after winning a sprint battle from a breakaway of two winners, Evgeny Fedorov (Kazakhstan) and Matthias Vacek (Czech Republic).

Men's junior champion Emil Herzog (Germany), who won the two-man sprint battle, did not care that it was raining when he lined up on the 17.1 km course with some 30 corners. I like the track here in Australia, and I like it when it's raining, because it makes everything a little bit more technical," he said. I like it here in Australia and I like it when it rains because it makes everything a little bit more technical. My technical skills are pretty good and I'm a little bit better at going downhill and making gaps in the corners.

However, some of his fellow junior riders did not seem to enjoy the course and conditions as much.

The retired list for the junior race included 46 riders, including time trial winner Joshua Tarling (GBR) and time trial silver medalist Hamish McKenzie (AUS). Despite having his shorts and jersey torn and a large red scar on his thigh and back, he returned to the field and finished in 37th place.

In the men's U23, a combination of an exhausting course and weather conditions prevented 59 athletes from finishing, leaving the finishers wet, dusty, and shivering as they marched through the finish area.

"It's never easy to race in weather that rains right from the start," said the organizer.

"But I wasn't the only one who suffered from that weather. The whole peloton was in the same conditions."