Italian Kerschbaumer wins junior mens XC title

Italian rider Gerhard Kerschbaumer has claimed his second goldmedal at the 2009 UCI World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships,taking out the junior men's cross country event in Canberra on Thursday.

The win follows on from Kerschbaumer's success as part of the Italian team that claimed the team relay on Tuesday.

RicardoPaulo Reis Marinheiro overtook Swiss rider Reto Indergand on the finallap to take silver and Portugal's first medal of the Championships.

The 18 year old Kerschbaumer, who finished in a time of 1hr31min01sec, 1min19sec aheadof Marinheiro, said that he felt good throughout the race.

"Therace went very well, it was perfect because my legs were perfect,"Kerschbaumer said. "The track was very tough and very technical but theatmosphere and the conditions helped me to win.

"On the firsttwo or three laps I was very calm and was trying to control the otherriders and then on the fourth lap I overtook everyone on the climb.”

Ina dramatic finish, Marinheiro went past Indergand in the closing stagesafter the 17-year old Swiss, racing in his first World Championships,suffered cramps near the finish.

"I am happy with the result,I tried very hard, Kerschbaumer was very strong on the uphill sectionsbut I am happy with second place," Marinheiro said.

Indergand,who when not racing studies electrical installation in his nativeSwitzerland, was full of praise for the Stromlo Forest Park circuit.

"I really like this course, and a third place is a good finish for me," Indergard said.