usacycling.org
Val Di Sole, Italy

Robbie Squire (Sandy, UT) passed 48 riders in Thursday’s Junior Men’s Cross-Country contest at the 2008 Mountain Bike World Championships, earning the United States a 23rd place finish. Three other American juniors contested the tough, five lap affair, but finished out of the top 50.
 
The only world championship medal event of the day at the Mountain Bike World Championships, the 18 mile Junior Men’s Cross-Country became a testament of will with less than half of the 119-rider field completing all five laps of the course. With the leaders riding sub-19 minute lap times that bested those of many of the elite male competitors in Tuesday’s Team Relay, much of the junior field was either pulled or forced to abandon before their fourth lap.
 
The U.S. team’s Squire, however, steadily picked-off rider after rider making his way from a 71st start position to finish strong in 23rd overall. The American rookie, who only began racing last season, seemed to grow stronger as the race progressed, on each circuit posting lap times equal to or better than the one before.
 
“I was racing my own race,” explained Squire. “I was just trying to keep a pace. I wasn’t trying to attack or anything.”
 
For Squire, who just last season won the Deer Valley National racing in his tennis shoes, the near top 20 world finish is a milestone.
 
“Considering all the outlying factors I’m pleased with the result and look forward to using the experience to build on,” said the 18-year-old.  
 
John Bennett (El Cerrito, CA), who contested the junior leg of Tuesday's Team Relay, turned in the next best result for the Americans with an 83rd place finish. Kerry Werner (Birdsboro, PA) and Seamus Powell (Round Top, NY) placed 85th and 92nd respectively. None of the four American competitors had any previous international racing experience and were exposed for the first time to racing in a 100-plus rider field at such intensity.
 
“I just didn’t have a good race. I had no legs today,” said Powell who suffered from a flat tire. “I definitely feel like if I had a little more experience with races like this I could put up some results.”  
 
JUNIOR CROSS-COUNTRY RESULTS
1. Peter Sagan (Svk)...1:35:21...11.5 mph av
2. Arnaud Jouffroy (Fra)...+1:33
3. Matthias Rupp (Swi)...Scott Lactat...2:50
23. Robbie Squire...Devo...12:24
83. John Bennett...Whole Athlete
85. Kerry Werner...Shirks by Trek
92. Seamus Powell...Windham Mt. Outfitters...all -2 laps