Gutsy performance by Kiwi at Junior Road Worlds

Aug 9th, 10.  18 year old Kiwi Ashleigh Neave was in great form and having the ride of her life at the UCI Jnr Road World Championships when a crash ended her race and left her with a broken bone.

On lap three of the five lap 80km course in Offida, Italy today, Neave was positioned well when a pile up happened in front of her.  

Neave managed to avoid the first two riders but not the third, and she became one of about a dozen riders to crash.

Neave thought she had popped her shoulder, she pushed it back into place, remounted and began the chase back to the bunch.  

By the next lap she caught the bunch, but on the climb the pain in her arm was too great.  

Neave made the tough call to abandon the race.

After inspecting the Napier rider, the race doctor sent her to hospital where she was diagnosed with a break at the very top of her right arm where it meets the shoulder. She will be in a sling for the next 13 days.

Two days earlier, Neave placed 17th in the individual time trial. A Top20 result is a great achievement.

Neave's training partner Jeremy Stephens, who wasn't racing, said the atmosphere at the World Championships has been amazing, with thousands of people from many nations supporting the riders along the course.  

Thanks to RoadCycling.co.nz's network of friends for passing the details on from Neave's father - published with his permission.