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RACE REPORTS: AMERICAN KRISTEN ARMSTRONG IS OLYMPIC TIME TRIAL CHAMPION
Road Bike Action & AFP
August 13, 2008
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American Kristen Armstrong, who turned 35 on Monday, won Olympic Gold in the hilly 23.5 KM Womens Individual Time Trial in Beijing. Her journey to gold started in 2005, when Armstrong took bronze at the World Championshiips in Madrid. After her Gold Medal win, Armstrong explained "At Madrid, I knew I wanted to be a medallist in Beijing," she said. Armstrong began her sporting career as a world class runner and swimmer before injury prompted her to take up cycling. "When I won the world champs in Salzburg (2006) I knew I wanted to come and get the (gold) medal."
photo: Rob Jones / Canadian Cyclist: Armstrong On The Attack
In 2007, Armstrong, who was born into a military family in Memphis, Tennessee, was second as Germany's Hanka Kupfernagel took the world title in Stuttgart. "At Stuttgart it was difficult to give up the rainbow jersey, but it was a blessing in disguise," Armstrong added. "It was a kind of wake up call that I just can't show up and win. It remotivated me and made me focus on the little things. There's a little luck in cycling. The Olympics only come every four years and to time things perfect for one day as an athlete is tough," the new Olympic champion said. Now, Armstrong is now looking forward to returning home to Boise, Idaho to get used to the idea.
photo: Rob Jones / Canadian Cyclist: Pooley Off To A Fast Start
Silver medalist Emma Pooley had a great ride to give Britain their second medal in the women's road events. Pooley, a 25-year-old Cambridge University engineering graduate 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 Gold medalist Armstrong, who posted 20:50, got close. Pooley came into the ITT with hopes of a medal having previewed the course in December last year when she rode up the climb in freezing snow. It was then that Pooley realized she would feel more comfortable with a specially set of handlebars that would leave her less aerodynamic, but far more comfortable. "If you're less aerodynamic but more comfortable and you can go faster then it's worth it," said Pooley. "I knew when I came here in December, when it was freezing and snowing, that it was a hard climb."
photo: Rob Jones / Canadian Cyclist: Swiss Thurig On The Way To Bronze
Swiss rider Karin Thurig, beat 49-year-old French legend Jeannie Longo by just two seconds to take the brnze medal. Thurig was 36secs behind Pooley after 10.8km mark gradually began to pull back Pooley's lead. "I heard on my radio earpiece that I was behind Emma," said the powerful 36-year-old Swiss, a former two-time world champion and top triathlete. "I knew (Pooley) was a strong rider but I wasn't too worried. I knew the best part for me was still to come." Delighted with her second consecutive bronze from the Olympic ITT time trial, Thurig talked about her performance on the Great Wall of China course, saying "This course was uphill so it didn't really suit me," Thurig said. "You have to change a lot of gears and change the rhythm a lot, so it's really demanding. It's a beautiful course, but I really suffered today so I couldn't really enjoy it."
4th place Longo lost another Olympic medal bu just 2 seconds and explained said her ride in the ITT was hampered by a sciatic nerve problem in her leg. "I wasn't feeling too good," said Longo, competing in her seventh Games. "I haven't had this sciatic problem for months, and two days ago it flared up. I knew at the start I was in for a painful day, but I was ready for it." At the 10.8 kilometre timecheck Longo was in third, 25" behind Pooley. Longo, who excels both as a climber and a time-trialler, dug deep in the ensuing downhill and flatter sections but was just beaten by former two-time world champion Thurig. "I'm extremely disappointed, because my whole lead-up to the Games was perfect. I was in great form," said Longo,
whose chances in the women's road race were hampered by one of her pet peeves, racing in the rain. "In the right conditions, I had a chance of winning two medals here. Today, I was in pain on the hill and on the small climbs. I would be much happier with the bronze, but I'm still satisfied with my performance," said Longo
photo: Rob Jones / Canadian Cyclist: Longo Missed Bronze By Just 2 Seconds
Longo, who has a combined 13 world road and track titles, has become only the third woman to compete at seven Olympics after Jamaican athletics star Merlene Ottey and Swedish fencer Kerstin Palm. But she has not ruled out continuing for another four years, when the London Olympics will be held in one of her favourite cities. "People have to keep reminding me that I'm nearly 50," added the Frenchwoman. "Honestly, I'm not looking at the calendar. "This year I trained really well and felt I had a lot of power. In the years before that wasn't the case." Longo, now heading home to France without a medal, may turn up at the World Championships in Varese, Italy this September . "I'll try to keep my form to go for the podium in the time-trial," she said.
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", while 21 yer old Dutch sensation Marianne Vos was not so sensational, finishing 14th, 2'06" behind Armstrong.
Women's Individual Time-Trial / 23.5km
1. Kristin Armstrong (USA) / 34'51"72
(Average speed 40.4 km/h)
2. Emma Pooley (GBR) @ 24.29"
3. Karin Thurig (SUI) @ 59.27"
4. Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (FRA) @ 1'00.90"
5. Christine Thorburn (USA) @ 1'02.44"
6. Judith Arndt (GER) @ 1'08.05"
7. Christiane Soeder (AUT) @ 1'29.03"
8. Priska Doppmann (SUI) @ 1'36.07"
9. Zulfiya Zabirova (KAZ) @ 1'37.75"
10. Susanne Ljungskog (SWE) @ 1'41.78"
11. Hanka Kupfernagel (GER) @ 1'43.33"
12. Tatiana Guderzo (ITA) @ 1'46.25"
13. Linda Villumsen (DEN) @ 1'58.90"
14. Marianne Vos (NED) @ 2'06.95"
15. Nicole Cooke (GBR) @ 2'22.53"
16. Natalia Boyarskaya (RUS) @ 2'22.93"
17. Gao Min (CHN) @ 2'23.51"
18. Mirjam Melchers-van Poppel (NED) @ 2'59.87"
19. Marta Vilajosana (ESP) @ 3'03.27"
20. Maryline Salvetat (FRA) @ 3'18.00"
21. Emma Johansson (SWE) @ 3'37.11"
22. Oenone Wood (AUS) @ 4'01.73"
23. Edita Pucinskaite (LTU) @ 4'03.65"
24. Alexandra Wrubleski (CAN) @ 4'23.70"
25. Meng Lang (CHN) @ 5'59.89"
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