Armstrong wins second time trial gold in Mendrisio

Olympic Champion Kristin Armstrong (USA) won her second time trial World Championship gold medal on Wednesday in Mendrisio, Switzerland. She rode the 26.8-kilometre course in a time of 35:26.

"It does not matter what year and how many time you are world champion, it is always the best feeling in the world," she said.

Noemi Cantele (Italy) placed second with a time of 36:21, 55 seconds behind Armstrong. Linda Melanie Villumsen (Denmark) rounded out the women's podium in third, 58 seconds behind Armstrong.

Armstrong, 36, won her first gold medal three year's ago in Salzburg, Austria. She prepared to arrive in top form for the Beijing Olympics in August last year and could only manage fifth at Worlds in Varese, Italy.

"The four years leading to Beijing, I was just focused on being the best for a medal," continued Armstrong. "It was different this year; I was focusing on the team [Cervélo TestTeam]. It took pressure off of me throughout the year and gave me motivation to go one more year after the Olympic win."

Armstrong's last race will be Saturday's World Championships road race. She will retire from competition and take up a management position with a team of developing riders in the USA.

Her time trial win was USA's fourth win since the women's competition started 15 years ago. Defending Champion Amber Neben (USA) finished sixth, 1:29 behind her teammate and one second behind Christiane Soeder (Austria).

The Netherlands continue good start

The women's time trial took in two 13.4-kilometre circuits, for a total of 26.8 kilometres through an area west of Mendrisio's centre. The 650-metre long Rancate climb was the main difficulty with sections of 10 percent.

The Netherlands started on top, just like in the Under-23 men's race in the morning. Dutchwoman and European time trial champion Elenora Van Dijk began third of the 41 riders to start. She closed the first lap with 18:33 and her time trial with 38:10.

Jessica Phillips (USA) quickly took the provisional top-spot of Van Dijk. US Champion Phillips posted 18:42 mid-way and a finish time of 37:37, 33 seconds faster than Van Dijk.

Canadian Whitten takes over

Over an hour later, Italy's Tatiana Guderzo and Lithuania's Diana Ziliute challenged Phillips, but both riders fell short. Guderzo by 22 seconds and Ziliute by 16 seconds. Canada's Tara Whitten finally topped Phillips as she posted a 18:12 first lap and ended with 37 minutes.

German Trixi Worrack slotted right between Phillips and Whitten moments later, finishing in 37:28.

Four-time champion Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France) started the last phase of 11 riders, which featured riders who would eventually top Whitten's time.

Longo-Ciprelli finished 14 seconds behind Whitten. Cantele rode the first sub-18-minute time, 17:59, at the end of lap one and provisional best at the finish, 36:21.

"I rode without a heart rate monitor or a race radio, I just wanted to follow my feelings," said Cantele. "After the second time up the climb I heard I was going well via the car's speaker."

Cantele said she was encouraged to race her first Worlds time trial after her first participation, and victory, at the Italian championships in June. "Maybe it is a good idea to keep on trying to win the Worlds!"

Armstrong topped both Cantele's times: 17:37 and 35:26 at the finish. Only Villumsen changed the order of the podium, taking third spot moments later, three seconds behind Cantele.

"I am happy with my bronze medal," said Villumsen, 24. "I'll be back next year to challenge for a higher place."

 

Results

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Final results
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kristin Armstrong (United States Of America)0:35:26.09
2Noemi Cantele (Italy)0:00:55.01
3Linda Melanie Villumsen (Denmark)0:00:58.25
4Judith Arndt (Germany)0:01:24.25
5Christiane Soeder (Austria)0:01:28.27
6Amber Neben (United States Of America)0:01:29.74
7Tatiana Antoshina (Russian Federation)0:01:31.75
8Tara Whitten (Canada)0:01:33.99
9Karin Thürig (Switzerland)0:01:38.01
10Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France)0:01:48.34
11Emma Pooley (Great Britain)0:01:57.07
12Trixi Worrack (Germany)0:02:02.55
13Alexis Rhodes (Australia)0:02:07.88
14Jessica Phillips (United States Of America)0:02:11.43
15Regina Bruins (Netherlands)0:02:14.70
16Diana Ziliute (Lithuania)0:02:27.35
17Trine Schmidt (Denmark)0:02:27.80
18Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)0:02:33.80
19Julie Beveridge (Canada)0:02:34.90
20Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands)0:02:43.99
21Vicki Whitelaw (Australia)0:02:59.45
22Bridie O`Donnell (Australia)0:03:04.33
23Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain)0:03:22.95
24Alexandra Burchenkova (Russian Federation)0:03:33.59
25Iturriagaechevarr. (Spain)0:03:44.53
26Vilija Sereikaite (Lithuania)0:03:46.25
27Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)0:03:51.72
28Pascale Schnider (Switzerland)0:04:08.12
29Grassi Herrera G (Mexico)0:04:14.44
30Iryna Shpylova (Ukraine)0:04:24.81
31Blaza Klemencic (Slovenia)0:04:27.85
32Verónica Leal Balderas (Mexico)0:04:40.59
33Olivia Dillon (Ireland)0:04:43.70
34Martina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)0:04:50.79
35Eivgenia Vysotskaya (Ukraine)0:04:58.95
36Chanpeng Nontasin (Thailand)0:06:15.50
37Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:06:17.03
38Debora Galvez Lopez (Spain)0:06:52.03
39Monrudee Chapookham (Thailand)0:07:03.98
40Polona Batagelj (Slovenia)0:07:09.81
41Monica Ceccon (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:09:19.12
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Split 1
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kristin Armstrong (United States Of America)0:08:05.66
2Tara Whitten (Canada)0:00:07.57
3Christiane Soeder (Austria)0:00:07.70
4Noemi Cantele (Italy)0:00:10.39
5Emma Pooley (Great Britain)0:00:11.88
6Linda Melanie Villumsen (Denmark)0:00:15.91
7Karin Thürig (Switzerland)0:00:17.38
8Diana Ziliute (Lithuania)0:00:17.39
9Amber Neben (United States Of America)0:00:18.53
10Regina Bruins (Netherlands)0:00:19.47
11Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands)0:00:19.73
12Vicki Whitelaw (Australia)0:00:19.78
13Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France)0:00:22.34
14Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)0:00:26.37
15Judith Arndt (Germany)0:00:26.83
16Trine Schmidt (Denmark)0:00:29.83
17Alexis Rhodes (Australia)0:00:31.75
18Jessica Phillips (United States Of America)0:00:32.81
19Trixi Worrack (Germany)0:00:33.30
20Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain)0:00:35.63
21Iturriagaechevarr. (Spain)0:00:36.97
22Julie Beveridge (Canada)0:00:37.23
23Alexandra Burchenkova (Russian Federation)0:00:37.70
24Tatiana Antoshina (Russian Federation)0:00:38.52
25Vilija Sereikaite (Lithuania)0:00:39.36
26Pascale Schnider (Switzerland)0:00:43.91
27Bridie O`Donnell (Australia)0:00:44.24
28Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)0:00:46.37
29Martina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)0:00:48.22
30Verónica Leal Balderas (Mex)0:00:48.70
31Grassi Herrera G (Mexico)0:00:52.06
32Iryna Shpylova (Ukraine)0:00:53.65
33Olivia Dillon (Ireland)0:00:56.65
34Blaza Klemencic (Slovenia)0:00:58.89
35Eivgenia Vysotskaya (Ukraine)0:01:10.30
36Debora Galvez Lopez (Spain)0:01:18.55
37Chanpeng Nontasin (Thailand)0:01:19.81
38Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:01:23.90
39Polona Batagelj (Slovenia)0:01:25.81
40Monrudee Chapookham (Thailand)0:01:32.77
41Monica Ceccon (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:02:00.45
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Split 2
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kristin Armstrong (United States Of America)0:17:37.21
2Noemi Cantele (Italy)0:00:22.66
3Linda Melanie Villumsen (Denmark)0:00:23.34
4Christiane Soeder (Austria)0:00:28.14
5Karin Thürig (Switzerland)0:00:34.49
6Tara Whitten (Canada)0:00:34.95
7Amber Neben (United States Of America)0:00:38.77
8Emma Pooley (Great Britain)0:00:44.48
9Judith Arndt (Germany)0:00:45.64
10Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France)0:00:46.30
11Regina Bruins (Netherlands)0:00:52.21
12Tatiana Antoshina (Russian Federation)0:00:53.56
13Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands)0:00:56.73
14Trine Schmidt (Denmark)0:01:01.76
15Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)0:01:02.49
16Trixi Worrack (Germany)0:01:02.85
17Alexis Rhodes (Australia)0:01:03.51
18Jessica Phillips (United States Of America)0:01:05.10
19Diana Ziliute (Lithuania)0:01:05.77
20Julie Beveridge (Canada)0:01:15.34
21Vicki Whitelaw (Australia)0:01:17.84
22Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain)0:01:26.12
23Bridie O`Donnell (Australia)0:01:31.33
24Alexandra Burchenkova (Russian Federation)0:01:33.81
25Iturriagaechevarr. (Spain)0:01:40.79
26Vilija Sereikaite (Lithuania)0:01:41.10
27Pascale Schnider (Switzerland)0:01:49.35
28Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)0:01:51.44
29Verónica Leal Balderas (Mexico)0:01:56.77
30Iryna Shpylova (Ukraine)0:01:58.49
31Grassi Herrera G (Mexico)0:02:01.10
32Martina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)0:02:02.99
33Blaza Klemencic (Slovenia)0:02:07.46
34Olivia Dillon (Ireland)0:02:15.13
35Eivgenia Vysotskaya (Ukraine)0:02:30.79
36Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:02:53.26
37Chanpeng Nontasin (Thailand)0:02:55.26
38Debora Galvez Lopez (Spain)0:03:04.18
39Polona Batagelj (Slovenia)0:03:18.96
40Monrudee Chapookham (Thailand)0:03:30.31
41Monica Ceccon (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:04:19.37
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Split 3
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kristin Armstrong (United States Of America)0:26:02.75
2Noemi Cantele (Italy)0:00:39.15
3Linda Melanie Villumsen (Denmark)0:00:40.25
4Christiane Soeder (Austria)0:00:47.41
5Tara Whitten (Canada)0:00:53.37
6Karin Thürig (Switzerland)0:01:00.13
7Amber Neben (United States Of America)0:01:00.14
8Emma Pooley (Great Britain)0:01:05.37
9Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France)0:01:05.75
10Judith Arndt (Germany)0:01:06.70
11Tatiana Antoshina (Russian Federation)0:01:09.36
12Alexis Rhodes (Australia)0:01:22.54
13Regina Bruins (Netherlands)0:01:25.42
14Trixi Worrack (Germany)0:01:26.09
15Diana Ziliute (Lithuania)0:01:34.24
16Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands)0:01:37.44
17Jessica Phillips (United States Of America)0:01:37.50
18Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)0:01:43.29
19Trine Schmidt (Denmark)0:01:45.30
20Vicki Whitelaw (Australia)0:01:54.02
21Julie Beveridge (Canada)0:01:55.20
22Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain)0:02:17.32
23Bridie O`Donnell (Australia)0:02:21.68
24Iturriagaechevarr. (Spain)0:02:24.67
25Vilija Sereikaite (Lithuania)0:02:28.41
26Alexandra Burchenkova (Russian Federation)0:02:28.51
27Emilia Fahlin (Sweden)0:02:46.40
28Pascale Schnider (Switzerland)0:02:52.91
29Iryna Shpylova (Ukraine)0:03:02.51
30Verónica Mex Leal Balderas (Mexico)0:03:03.62
31Grassi Herrera G (Mexico)0:03:04.18
32Blaza Klemencic (Slovenia)0:03:07.93
33Martina Ruzickova (Czech Republic)0:03:18.45
34Olivia Dillon (Ireland)0:03:24.23
35Eivgenia Vysotskaya (Ukraine)0:03:38.87
36Chanpeng Nontasin (Thailand)0:04:19.73
37Kathryn Bertine (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:04:34.92
38Debora Galvez Lopez (Spain)0:04:54.60
39Monrudee Chapookham (Thailand)0:05:01.14
40Polona Batagelj (Slovenia)0:05:03.98
41Monica Ceccon (St. Kitts and Nevis)0:06:43.04

 

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