Lawson Craddock gained plenty of TV time when he spent most of the day during today's U23 world championships time trial. The young American was very happy with his 5th place result and has now set his sights of becoming one of the first great stage racers on the usually sprint focused Argos-Shimano team.

Damien Howson may have taken the win in today's U23 time trial championships but the rider who got most attention throughout the day was Lawson Craddock. Being the 19th rider down the ramp, the American set an early best time that forced him to spend most of the day in the hot seat as the provisional leader of the race.

It wasn't to be for Craddock who was knocked into 2nd by eventual silver medallist Yoann Paillot. When the big favourites arrived, he dropped further down and ultimately had to settle for 5th but the long stint as potential world champion didn't leave him disappointed.

Being a smaller guy with great climbing legs, Craddock wasn't perfectly suited to the flat power course. Actually, he had put most of his focus on Friday's tough road race.

"It was a brutal time trial," he told a couple of medias, including CyclingQuotes. "I don't think it was one that suited my strengths, so I'm ecstatic with fifth. I haven't put as much focus as I have into the road race. I've had a lot of good time trial results in the past, but I feel like I've become more of a road racer. I'm really focused on Friday and I think I have a lot more to give."

"I've improved my climbing a lot and have lost a bit of my flat riding ability. This time trial was all about going as fast you can for as long as you can. It's fine I guess but I am really happy with 5th."

Actually, it could have been even better for Craddock if he hadn't crashed just before the second time check.

"It was halfway through the race," he said. "I cooked it a little bit too fast going through a roundabout. My front wheel just slid out. "I think before I was even falling [our mechanic] was out of the car and helping me up. I minimized my time loss. I don't think it changed much. But it is always a bummer to crash at the world championships, especially in the time trial."

Craddock hadn't expected to spend that much time in the hot seat but with pre-race outsiders like Stefan Küng starting a bit earlier, he knew that he would be in for a good result if he could set the best time.

"I went off early. I knew there were a few good guys in front of me. If I finished with the best time, I knew there was a good chance for a great result in the end. After I crashed, I was quite surprised when I heard "You have the fastest time, you have the fastest time!" That was a little weird but I'll take it"

Joining Argos-Shimano

Last month it was announced that Craddock and fellow American stage racing talent had signed a contract with Argos-Shimano. The move raised eyebrows as the Dutch team has been more focused on their sprinters than their climbers. Alexandre Geniez even left the team to get into an environment with a more clear focus on developing his strengths as a climber.

However, Argos-Shimano is known as one of the best when it comes to the development of young talent and that played a huge role in Craddock's decision.

"For me it wasn't a strange decision," he said. "I have had really good feeling ever since I started talking with Argos. For me, the primary factor in deciding the team was my development. Argos can offer me the best."

"They have signed a couple of other stage racers, Chad Haga who is actually from Texas as I am. So it's a really young team, they have Warren Barguil and Tobias Ludvigsson. It's a good team this year and it is going to be a better team next year. It is going to offer me the best chance to develop as a rider."

Craddock has shown his potential several times this year. He finished 8th in the Tour of California and 7th in the USA Pro Challenge and feels that he has the capabilities to develop into a great stage racer.

I've actually surprised myself," he said. "I was the best young rider in California. I had a really good USA Pro Challenge. That [a stage racer] is what I am trying to develop myself into. I can time trial pretty well as I've just shown and my climbing has become a lot better."

On Friday, Craddock will line up as part of a very strong American team for the road race. CyclingQuotes also discussed that event with the young American. You can read more about that in a later article.