Olympics: Armstrong grabs cycling time-trial gold

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

JUYONGGUAN - American Kristin Armstrong won gold in the women's road cycling time-trial here on Wednesday.

Britain's Emma Pooley claimed the silver medal with Karin Thurig of Switzerland claiming the bronze.

Armstrong, 35, blitzed her way over the hilly 23.5 kilometre time-trial course to add a maiden Olympic crown to her 2006 world title in the discipline.

Pooley meanwhile rode the race of her life to hand Britain their second medal from the women's road events.

The 25-year-old Cambridge University graduate played a pivotal role in team-mate Nicole Cooke's triumph on the hilly sections of the women's road race Sunday when the Welshwoman handed Britain their first gold of these Games.

On Wednesday, Pooley went out to defy big favourite Armstrong, who is no relation for seven-time Tour de France winner Lance, in a bid to grab her own share of Olympic glory.

Pooley started fifth from the field of 25 riders and set a blistering pace on the nine-kilometre climb, leading to the first time check at the 10.8km mark where she crossed over in an unbeaten time of 20 minutes 46 seconds.

Only Armstrong, who posted 20:50, got close.

Reigning world champion Hanka Kupfernagel was among the big names who had trouble with the climb, the German crossing over in 16th place in 22:16.

Some of the bigger, non-climbing specialists clawed back some of the time they lost on the climb during the downhill, then flatter sections leading gradually towards the slightly uphill finish line.

It was there that Pooley posted a promising time of 35:16, which stood firm until Armstrong - the 2006 world champion - beat a path to the gold in 34:51.

Behind the American, team-mate Christine Thorburn lost the chance of a medal when she finished in fifth place in 35:54.

Thurig had clocked 21:22 at the time check but battled hard on the remainder of the course to finish with her second consecutive Olympic time-trial bronze.

The Swiss, a former world champion who is also a big name in the tough Iron Man triathlon events, beat 49-year-old French legend Jeannie Longo by just two seconds. Longo finished in fourth place.