New Zealand’s Nate Pringle Secures Silver at Cycling World Champs

New Zealand cyclist Nate Pringle achieved a remarkable feat by finishing second in the men’s under-23 time trial at the World Road Cycling Championships held in Rwanda. Pringle completed the challenging 31.2 km course in a time just over a minute behind the winner, Jakob Soderqvist of Sweden. Maxime Decomble from France secured third place, finishing less than half a second after Pringle.

The course presented a formidable challenge, featuring multiple climbs and a cobbled finish. Reflecting on his race, Pringle expressed his disbelief at the outcome. “It’s surreal,” he told Eurosport after the competition. “It was a bit of a surprise, but I don’t really have anything to compare it to. I just went as hard as I could and then tried to recover. By the time I reached those cobbles, I was pretty dead; they were so much harder in person, but it was really fun.”

Despite his impressive performance, Pringle will not participate in the upcoming road race. He faced logistical challenges in transporting his other bikes to Rwanda. The cyclist, now 21 years old, joined the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe Rookies team in March 2023 and previously claimed victory in the New Zealand under-23 time trial earlier this year.

Pringle’s silver medal not only highlights his individual talent but also reflects the growing prominence of New Zealand in the cycling world. As he continues to develop his skills and compete internationally, his future in the sport looks promising.