Iturria - Everything went wrong at Worlds

Young Basque prodigy Mikel Iturria's World Championships bow didn't go entirely according to plan on Monday.

The Equipo Euskadi rider was one of two Spaniards selected to ride the sub-23 time trial in Florence, and neither rider performed up to expectations.

Cantabrian Mario González, fresh off a stellar season with Cafés Baqué-Conservas Campos, came in 37th, while Iturria ended up a more distant 67th, a full seven and a half minutes down on victor Damien Howson.

It wasn't exactly the Worlds debut Iturria had been hoping for.

"Everything went wrong today", he told the Spanish Cycling Federation's website upon completing the race of truth. "I wasn't feeling good, and it didn't get better as we got underway".

A long, flat time trial was hardly ideal terrain for the gangly climber, but Wednesday's road race is likely to suit the young native of Urnieta, Gipuzkoa, a lot more.