CyclistThe young riders who impressed at the World ChampionshipsThe favourites for the 2024 Road World Championships surprised no one at all by winning the rainbow jerseys in the elite races. However, the competition also revealed a number of young riders who are staking their claims as stars of the future.Ive picked out seven young riders who left their mark throughout the week in Zrich. Cat Ferguson, Great BritainTim de Waele/Getty ImagesBritish rider Cat Ferguson rode to a phenomenal double gold at the World Championships in just two days. The 18-year-old won the 18.8km junior womens individual time-trial by 35sec ahead of Slovakias Viktria Chladonov and then sprinted to junior road race victory against Chladonov and Spains Paula Ostiz, going one better than last year in Glasgow to win the rainbow bands.It caps a phenomenal season for Ferguson who became the Junior National Champion this summer amid an abundance of overall wins from the Omloop Borseke Juniors, Tour du Gvaudan Occitanie and Bizkaikoloreak Juniors. The young star continues to develop with the Movistar squad on a three-year contract. And while writing this, she has just won Binche-Chimay-Binche as a stagiaire as well. Related Posts Ranking the last ten UCI Road World Championships The best photos from the UCI World Championships mens road race 2024 The best photos from the UCI World Championships womens road race 2024 Where are the rising stars of the 2014 UCI World Championships now? Puck Pieterse, NetherlandsTim de Waele/Getty ImagesIts a shame that the U23 women have, so far, not enjoyed their own World Championships race. Instead they compete for the U23 title within the elite race. While this is set to change from next year, 22-year-old Puck Pieterse secured the rainbow jersey for the U23 women with her 13th place overall.Not only an accomplished rider on the road with her new U23 title and a Tour de France Femmes stage victory this year, Pieterse has multiple titles across mountain biking that include the World and European XC Championships, plus a national title in cyclocross. Great things are expected of her in the future, but shes already one of the worlds best in all disciplines she rides.Imogen Wolff, Great BritainDario Belingheri/Getty Images18-year-old Imogen Wolff finished on the podium of the junior individual time-trial, 37sec down on Ferguson for her highest-placed finish at the World Championships. She followed this with an impressive sixth place in the road race.Wolff led home a British one-two at the Trofeo Binda Juniors earlier in the season, ultimately winning by 19sec ahead of Ferguson. She then won the individual time-trial at the National Championships and finished second in a sprint against Ferguson in the road race. Shes signed for Visma-Lease a Bike for the next few years so keep your eyes peeled for big things.Jakob Sderqvist, SwedenDario Belingheri/Getty ImagesJakob Sderqvist rode to second place in the mens U23 ITT, finishing 32sec behind Spains Ivan Romeo. Its yet another silver medal for the Swedish TT Champion who also collected one at the European Championships too, when he finished 31sec down on Alec Segaert of Belgium.The 21-year-old has been a time-trialling force to be reckoned with this season, winning the stages against the clock at the Flche de Sud and Giro Next Gen.Seb Grindley, Great Britain Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesSeb Grindley made quite the name for himself at the World Championships with his second place in the junior road race, the result of dogged determination over multiple ascents in the pouring rain. He couldnt claw back Italys Lorenzo Finn, but he did grab Great Britains first ever medal in the event. It comes a year after he finished eighth in Glasgow.His palmars is littered with victories this year, from Nokere Koerse to the Junior Tours of Mendips and Wales, and he looks like he might be stepping up to Lidl-Trek Future Racing from 2025.Niklas Behrens, GermanyDario Belingheri/Getty ImagesIn the finale of the mens 173km U23 road race, Germanys Niklas Behrens and Slovakias Martin Svrek engaged in a fierce two-up sprint to the line, with the former coming out on top, adding to his recent silver medal in the U23 road race at the European Championships.At the time, he was the only rider in the top five of the race that wasnt already a professional. However it has now been announced hes officially signed with Visma-Lease a Bike for the next three years.Oscar Onley, Great BritainJoan Cros - Corbis/Getty ImagesLast but not least, Oscar Onley shone in his debut World Championships, at one point in a chasing trio behind Tadej Pogaar. His ride to 16th place overall also made him the youngest rider in the top 20. Some feat for the 21-year-old. Related Posts Ranking the last ten UCI Road World Championships The best photos from the UCI World Championships mens road race 2024 The best photos from the UCI World Championships womens road race 2024 Where are the rising stars of the 2014 UCI World Championships now? The post The young riders who impressed at the World Championships appeared first on Cyclist.