New Zealand’s Linda Villumsen won the elite women’s time trial at the World Championships Tuesday in Richmond, Virginia. She covered the 29.9km course in 40:30 to win the world title, beating Anna Van der Breggen (Netherlands) by less than three seconds and defending champion Lisa Brennauer (Germany) by five seconds.
Over the past seven years, Villumsen has never finished outside the top 10 in the Worlds time trial, making it onto the podium five times, including three third places and two second places. Finally reaching the top step came almost as a relief for the 30-year-old Danish-born Kiwi who became a New Zealand citizen in 2009.
"I was so used to being second, third, fourth or fifth," she said in the post-race press conference. "It was a day where everything played out my way. I started to believe in it about halfway through, even though I didn't have any split times and I didn't know what was going on behind me. I just gave it what I could and felt really good all the way. I thought maybe this is my day."
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Two-time world champion Kristin Armstrong (USA) set the early benchmark with a 40:50 against blustery winds. Amstrong's time held until the last wave of riders started.
"I arrived there, and Armstrong was there," Villumsen said of taking her pace on the podium hot seat alongside the US rider. "Kirstin is a person I look up to and have for many years, so being ahead of her was quite a special feeling. Every minute is a very long minute [in the hot seat]. Just sitting there waiting for everyone to finish was very hard."
The conditions changed considerably by the time the final wave of riders set off, however, and Armstrong's time was quickly surpassed by Katrin Garfoot (Australia) with a 40:39 and then Villumsen, whose time topped the standings for the rest of the event.
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