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VARESE, Italy, Sept 23, 2008 (AFP) - Adriano Malori of Italy put his fifth-place finish at last year’s world championships firmly to bed with his maiden under-23 world time trial crown here on Tuesday.

Malori got the competition - where fellow Italian Paolo Bettini is aiming for a third consecutive gold in the men’s road race - off to the perfect start by coming over the finish line of the 33.55km course in a time of 41min 35secs.

Germany’s Patrick Gretsch, a former junior world champion, took the silver medal after finishing second at 49secs adrift while Australia’s Cameron Meyer took bronze at 1min 04sec off the pace.

Malori was the last to start from the field of 63 riders, and later admitted the improving weather conditions, following an earlier rain shower, had given him the psychological edge.

But the 20-year-old said it was his decision to use a huge gear ratio of
55×11 for the rolling course that made the real difference.

“I’ve always liked using big gear ratios and I think my decision to use a
55×11 today has been vindicated,” said Malori, who was quickest from the field at all three of the intermediate checkpoints.

“Once I got to the top of the climb the gear factor became fundamental for me. I knew I could make up plenty of time on the rest of the course.”

Despite admitting one of his few idols is American Lance Armstrong, who is set to return to the peloton after a three-year absence next year, Malori said he is in no hurry to become a full-on stage racing professional.

Meyer, however, has no such hesitations.

A talented track rider who missed points race bronze in both the world championships and Olympic Games earlier this year, he has become the first Australian since Michael Rogers, in 2000, to win a world time trial medal at under-23 level.

Rogers, a big favourite for the men’s elite race on Thursday, is a former three-time world champion and an established stage racer. Meyer, a 20-year-old from Western Australia, would like to follow a similar path.

“Michael Rogers is a big role model for me. I’d like to think I could follow in his footsteps,” said Meyer, who is the reigning Tour of Japan champion.

“After coming fourth twice this year at the worlds and Olympics, I’m really happy to finally make it on to the podium.”

His only regret was not going faster on the first half of the course.

“On the first half, to the top of the climb I would have liked to have gone a little bit faster. But I thought I brought it home pretty good.”

Gretsch’s silver medal was well deserved, given he suffered a crash on a bend in the final 3km after emerging from a tunnel.