I believe I have posted similar before and you all know this, but it takes age, talent, weight training, race craft and match to the event, and luck to do well.
I agree you need 20/hours/week for longer events - and be lighter. I am not alone in my opinion bike time is less important for power events. His trainer trains the USA track guys and said miles don't matter so much to short events. Junior added 10kg in 3 years - like 7kg with this trainer since October last year.
For road races it was very apparent that if he couldn't finish, his speed didn't matter and finishing longer rider has become the larger challenge, so no more road races right now.
I'm kinda bummed but this is the first nats since age 10 he will not be doing the RR.