Other US Armstrong claims time trial title

CYCLING WORLD ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS: OLYMPIC CHAMPION Kristin Armstrong of the US stormed to victory in the women's time trial at the World Road Championships in the southern Swiss city of Mendrisio yesterday, beating her nearest competitor by almost a minute.

The 36-year-old finished the 26.8km course in 35 minutes 26 seconds to win the title for the second time in four years, with Italy’s Noemi Cantele 55 seconds behind in second.

Linda Villumsen of Denmark was third, while defending champion Amber Neben of the US finished sixth.

Former triathlete Armstrong, who took up professional cycling in 2001, also won the individual road time trial in Beijing last year.

She won her first world championship time trial in 2006 and was second the following year. Armstrong, the seventh-from-last to start, always looked as if she would win, recording the best times at all three checkpoints. She passed the halfway mark in 17:37 minutes, 22 seconds ahead of Cantele.

Ireland’s US-based Olivia Dillion finished 33rd four minutes and 43.7 seconds behind Armstrong.

David McCann will line out today in the elite world championship time trial. The multiple Irish title holder broke Chris Boardman’s 16 year British 25 mile time trial in South Wales on Sunday, averaging over 33 miles per hour to clock a time of 45 minutes and 54 seconds.

Boardman was a multiple Tour de France prologue winner and McCann will hope the new record is an indication that he is on for a strong performance.

Aaron Buggle began Ireland’s campaign yesterday when he lined out on the Under-23 time trial.

The 33.2 kilometre race was won by Australian rider Jack Bobridge, ahead of Nelson Oliveira (Portugal) and Patrick Gretsch (Germany). Buggle was three minutes and 55 seconds off the time of Bobridge, placing 57th.

Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish has been forced to withdraw from Sunday’s men’s World Championship. The 24-year-old from the Isle of Man has been in scintillating form this season, but after clinching his 23rd victory of the season earlier this month in America, he was forced to withdraw from the Tour of Missouri with a respiratory infection. His place goes to Ian Stannard.