2nd in the World for Rachel Larner

Sep 12th, 11. NZ's Rachel Larner won the silver medal in the road race final of the UCI World Cycling Tour final in Belgium today to add to the time trial bronze medal she won two days ago.

After qualifing for the finals by winning her 40-45 year age category in both events in Perth back in April, Larner had been doing everything she could to be in the best possible position to challenge for the coveted rainbow ringed jersey of the World Champion.

She trained like a pro-rider, travelled to Belgium two weeks early to test herself on the courses, and was eager to show how far she had come since taking up competitive cycling within the last five years.

In the event's opening day time trial she recovered from a disastrous start - she slipped off the starting ramp - to take the bronze medal.

Today's 107km road course took the peloton over many of the roads and climbs of the tough Liege Bastogne Liege pro-tour classic race. The peloton was a mixture of riders from the 19-45 year age categories, something which looked to work in the favour of the local riders who were over represented in the results.

Larner was the 10th rider to cross the finish line, the second in her age group. On top of her bronze medal in the time trial event, the Aucklander understandably called the event "hugely successful".

"I gave it 200%," she told RoadCycling.co.nz. "Absolutely smashed now."

Larner's coach Karl Murray was proud of her performance.

"I'm very happy for Rachel as she has been training all year with this being the main goal. A silver and a bronze is a great result and I know it will just make her eager for the gold next time," Murray told RoadCycling.co.nz