The next generation of specialists is expected to shine despite short course – World Championships junior women’s time trial contenders

Maria Okrucinska of Poland (Image credit: Getty Images)

Maria Okrucinska is one of Poland’s brightest cycling talents, with a growing palmarès in the junior ranks where she races for Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team.

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After finishing seventh in the individual time trial at the World Championships and European Championships last year, she raised the bar by winning the overall title at the Watersley Ladies Challenge.

Okrucinska lost only one time trial this year, and it was at the Watersley Ladies Challenge, where she finished second in the stage 1 time trial to Liliana Edwards (USA).

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In every other time trial, she has crossed the line in victory, including stage 1 of EPZ Omloop van Borsele, Memoriał Tomka Jakubowskiego – ITT, and the junior time trial title at the Polish National Championships.

Liliana Edwards (Image credit: Getty Images)

Liliana Edwards was the rider who beat Okrucinska in the opening time trial at the prestigious Watersley Ladies Challenge, and she too finished in the top-10 (9th) in the junior time trial at the Worlds in Kigali last year.

She arrives in Montreal as the US junior time trial champion but has represented her nation in an international calendar of racing this season, racing for trade team CCB p/b Levine Law Group.

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Her successes include finishing third in the time trial at the EPZ Omloop van Borsele, where she finished third overall. After winning her national title in the junior time trial, she went on to finish second in the road race behind Sophia Wellmeier.

Laura Five of Belgium (Image credit: Getty Images)

Laura Fivé is the reigning Belgian junior women’s time trial champion, who finished 10th last year at the Worlds in Kigali. She competes with Airtox – Carl Ras Junior Women in an international racing season.

She has won three races this year, two of them time trials, at Provinciaal Kampioenschap Oost-Vlaanderen WJ – ITT, Chrono Challenge Poperinge, and the national championships.

She also placed third at Chrono Challenge Lendelede and second at Chrono Challenge Borlo, both times behind her compatriot Yana Decruyenaere, who will also represent Belgium at the Worlds in Montreal.