field on the first day of his assault on the World Junior Cycling Championships in France.

The 17-year-old came in 54th out of 65 finishers during the Time Trial stage -- a 24.5km ride between the towns of Le Croisty and Plouay.

The course was point to point along a rolling country road that travels through from the back country of Brittany into the centre of Plouay. Not really built for all out speed, due to the undulating terrain and rough road surface, the course rewards those in form.

Although the day began sunny it soon deteriorated and by the time the riders were reaching the finishing stretch, storms were being encountered.

Butterfield, racing without a team and from the smallest particpating country, was sixth away from the start gate and by the first sector, 12km in, he had clocked 20 minutes, 0.38 seconds.

By the time he had reached the second marker, some 20km into the ride, his time was 27:10.15 and he crossed the finising line in a time of 35:26.51.

That placed him four and half minutes off the day's quickest time, set by Polish-born, part-time Canadian, Peter Mazur.

Mazur's gold medal finish confirmed him as the number one junior male rider in the world.