Many people were wondering what Tom Danielson, the American road pro known for his feats on the feared mountain steeps, was doing in the time trial at the world championships in Italy on Wednesday.

Danielson, who finished 35th, said afterward that, like much of his inaugural season of racing in Europe, the idea was to gain some experience. The 46.75km race in the hilly wine region near Lake Garda was the longest time trial Danielson had ever raced.

“For me, coming here is just a great experience to try and practice,” Danielson said after his ride. “I’m not a time trial specialist, and I need to be.”

With only two spots available in the elite men’s time trial, it says something that one of them was used for a rider to gain experience. One spot went to U.S. Postal pro David Zabriskie, who put in an impressive effort to finish fifth, but most of the more qualified contenders from the U.S. have already hung it up for the season.

Over the last few years, the U.S. team has struggled to recruit its marquee stars for the world championships, which take place at the end of a long season.

“I would have liked to have called it a season a couple weeks ago,” said Danielson, “but I needed to come here to learn. I’m just happy to get the opportunity to do it.”

After a season with the Italian Fassa Bortolo team, the 26-year-old Danielson has signed a deal to race with the U.S. Postal team (to be renamed for new sponsor Discovery next year) in 2005. The time trial at the world championships provided an opportunity for him to go up against the world’s best and get a feel for what he might face in major international stage races.

“I’m better at the shorter ones, but the grand tour time trials are longer,” he said.

The distance took its toll on Danielson, who completed the first 6.3km with the 22nd fastest time, but faded to 36th fastest in the next 27.1km and 37th in the final 13.4km.

“It was hard,” Danielson said. “I’ve never done such a long course, so I didn’t know how to pace myself -- whether to eat or drink, and where. The longest I had ever done before was 30k.”

After the road race on Sunday, Danielson will return to the U.S. for the off-season, then begin preparations for his 2005 season with Discovery.

“I’m also getting married [October] 23, so a lot’s been going on this month,” said Danielson, who after a season of being based in Italy, will move back to his home in Durango, Colorado, after the world championships. “New team, a wife – I’m looking forward to going home, I miss Colorado so much.”