The Women’s Time Trial results were Emma Pooley (GBR) 32:44.44 in 1st position, Germany’s Judith Arndt in 2nd place with a time of 33:03.16 (+15.17) and 3rd on the podium was Linda Melanie Villumsen (NZL) 33:04.24 (+15.8).
The women’s 22.8km time trial started out relatively slow, with the new and less experienced riders heading out of the gates first, it was the first climb that the U23 Men experienced twice that really pushed the women to the limit on Mt Pleasant Road.
Pooley, Olympic Silver Medallist and now World Time Trial Champion was 15 seconds ahead of Arndt, who passed Australian hope Alexis Rhodes on the course that she was clearly not suited to.
Emma Pooley (GBR) – UCI World Champion in Elite Women’s Time Trial
Judth Arndt (GER), 2nd in the UCI World Champion in Elite Women’s Time Trial
Villumsen switched allegiance to New Zealand from Denmark in December 2009 and was very proud to ride for her new country in today’s time trial and proud to win bronze.
Australian Shara Gillow came in 8th place which is an excellent result for the first timer; Vicki Whitelaw (AUS) was 18th followed by Alexis Rhodes (AUS) in 19th.
The most amazing and inspirational ride of the day was perhaps 51 year old French rider Jeannie Longo-Cirprelli, she has been riding since before Pooley was born and came in 5th place.
The women’s road race is on Saturday the 2nd of October at 1pm; it will be interesting to see how the two climbs affect the women’s peloton.
Photos : Sirotti
