First Kiwis racing at UCI World Champs today

Jason Christie ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Sep 19th, 11. Jason Christie and Georgia Williams are the first of the 16 strong Kiwi team to race at the 2011 UCI World Road Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In today's opening day of competition, Williams is racing the Women's U19 13.9km time trial while Christie is competing in the two x 17.6km lap Men's U23 time trial race.

Williams, the NZ U19 TT Champion, has been in Europe since the UCI Junior Track World Championships in Moscow last month.

In that event the Aucklander earned a silver medal in the 2000m individual pursuit and placed 4th in the 3000m team pursuit.

Her time trial begins at 8:15pm tonight, NZ time.

Christie, who like Williams is also entered in the road race later in the week, has spent most of the season in Europe racing with the NZ U23 Development team.

The NZ U23 Time Trial Champion enjoyed many successes, particularly on the Belgian Kermesse circuit where he took a hat-trick of victories one week in May.

Last week the 20 year old placed 8th in a warm-up time trial event, the UCI1.2 Chrono Champenois in France. 

"My form is ok, but I took it pretty cautious on the course with it being wet with a lot of turns and roundabouts," he told RoadCycling.co.nz at the time. "I cant wait till next Monday!"

Christie is racing at 12:55am tomorrow morning, NZ time.

Go Kiwis, Go!

The 2011 UCI Road World Championships continue until September 25th.