Lithuania's Tomas Vaitkus won the men's under-23 world time trial title in Belgium on Tuesday.

The tall 20-year-old, who was second last to leave the time trial ramp from the field of 57, clocked a time of 38 minutes 40.8 seconds.

Vaitkus finished over 40 seconds clear of runner-up Alexandr Bespalov, the Russian recording a time of 39:22.50.

Portugal's Sergio Paulinho came third with 40:09.77 in the 33.7km race against the clock.

Vaitkus, a former track rider, was one of the race favourites after he recently won the under-23 section of the prestigious GP of Nations.

Earlier, in the first first event of the championships, Italy's Anna Zugno won the women's junior world time trial title.

The 18-year-old took finished more than six seconds ahead of the chasing pack.

She clocked 15 minutes 54.21 seconds over an 11.2km course centred on the Zolder motor racing circuit.

Another Italian 18-year-old, Tatiana Guderzo, was second in 16:00.75.

Claudia Hecht of Germany finished third in 16:01.42.

Hecht had set the fastest split time at the final checkpoint around two kilometres from the finish and Zugno was only third as she passed through.

But the Italian, who was second last to start, had the strength to maintain her speed in the closing stages to take victory.

The week-long championships end on Sunday with the men's professional road race.

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Men's under-23 world time trial result (33.7km)

1. Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) 38 minutes 40.80 seconds
2. Alexandr Bespalov (Rus) at 41.69 secs
3. Sergio Paulinho (Por) 1:28
4. Jonas Olsson (Swe) 1:31
5. Marcus Fothen (Ger) 1:32
6. Alexandr Arekeev (Rus) 1:39
7. Sebastien Rosseler (Fra) 1:40
8. Niels Scheuneman (Ned) 1:49
9. Gregor Gazvoda (Slo) 1:50
10. Christophe Kern (Fra) 1:50.75

Women's junior world time trial result (11.2 km)

1. Anna Zugno (Ita) 15 minutes 54.21 seconds
2. Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) at 6.54 secs
3. Claudia Hecht (Ger) 7.21
4. Luise Keller (Ger) 18.33
5. Christa Pirard (Ned) 18.67
6. Larssyn Staley (US) 19.98
7. Sally Cowman (Aus) 21.63
8. Grace Verbeke (Bel) 24.60
9. Mirannda Vierling (Ned) 36.29
10. Petra Bublova (Cze) 41.35