Italy's Dario Cataldo has admitted to finding today's European Games time trial "very tough" going, after finishing the Bilgah Beach course down in 16th place.
The 30-year-old was aiming to secure a medal at the inaugural event, but he could only finish with a time of 1:03:17.25 - well behind eventual winner Vasil Kiryienka, who crossed in 59:36.03.
Speaking after the race, Cataldo told reporters: "This was a very tough time trial. There was a lot of wind from the side that made it very difficult to control the bike. And it is also a pretty long race which makes it difficult for everyone.
"I tried to do my best, but this is a course for the real specialists. My goal was to reach the podium but I knew already that [Ilnur] Zakarin and [Luis Leon] Sanchez Gil were going to be very strong. [Andriy] Frivko, my teammate, is preparing for the Tour de France so I expected him to be strong as well and he was."
Kiryienka, who secured Belarus's sixth gold medal of the Games, claimed after the race that he is unsure of his future plans for the remainder of this season.
Daniel Lewis
