Young Australian Caleb Ewan has confirmed his status as a star of the future by placing fourth in the under-23 road race at the world cycling championships in Tuscany on a course that didn't suit him.
The 140km race was won by Slovenian Matej Mohoric in a bold breakaway with two laps of the 16.6km finishing circuit remaining.
South African Louis Meintjes was second and Norwegian Sondre Enger won the bunch sprint for third.
Ewan, from NSW, explained that before the race he didn't expect to be in contention at the end due to the hilly nature of the course which suits climbers.
"But after that last climb, when I was near the front, your whole mindset changes and you switch straight to a winning sort of mind," Ewan told reporters.
"I'm pretty disappointed now because I came so close to medalling.
"But with the results I've had this year, and the way I've won them in the sprints, no-one was going to take me to the line."
Ewan committed with 600 metres to go and said he was happy he tried to win the bunch sprint even though he was beaten on the line for bronze.
"There's always next year."
The 19-year-old sprinter praised teammates Damien Howson, who won the time trial earlier in the week, and Adam Phelan in particular who had stayed with the leading group until the final lap.
Mohoric had the crowds enthralled on Friday by furiously pedalling even as he was sitting on his bike's top-tube in an aero-position while descending back into Florence.
The under-23 road race often sees the emergence of future stars of the sport.
Australia's Michael Matthews, who races in the elite event on Sunday, won in Geelong as an U23 in 2010.
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