Defending World Champion in the Women’s Time Trial, Emma Pooley showed just how classy she is with a bronze medal on a course and a day that far from suited her. It confirmed that ahead of the London Olympics, the Olympic Silver medallist in Beijing can race well on both flat and hilly courses and as such, will be a favourite for selection and a medal in the London Olympics.
Emma Pooley, third, a regular on the podium in the Women’s Time Trial at World Championships and Olympic Games. Photo: www.copenhagen2011.dk
Starting last, Emma paced herself well on the flat course but was unable to stop Germany’s Ardnt from coming from behind and taking the top spot, well clear of second placed Kiwi Linda Villumsen (at 21 seconds) and Emma at 24 seconds.
Ardnt started well, placing 8th at the first time check to Pooley’s 4th and Villumsen’s 6th. The champion to be went through the second time check in third whilst Pooley was getting better as well with second and Villumsen too moving up the timing charts with fourth. The third quarter of the race however saw Ardnt use her vast expereince to go through the final split in first, well up on both Villumsen (in second) and Pooley who had dropped to fourth. The Brit fought back however and finished the race third.
Emma Pooley said afterwards: “I´m quite pleased with my bronze medal. Of course I´m also a bit sad not to be the World Champion any longer but Denmark is a bit flat for me!”
Meanwhile, Ardnt was over the moon saying “Today could not have been better,” said Arndt who rides for HTC-Highroad. “I was feeling very confident after having a lot of time trial success this season, and I was feeling good physically also, after preparing my legs in the Giro Della Toscana last week.”
“The bike [Specialized Shiv] was working perfectly, I didn’t have to think about it, I just concentrated on having a perfect race. There were a lot of corners and the course was wet, but I was able to handle everything and had no mistakes or mechanical issues.” The victory was Arndt’s first World Time Trial Rainbow Jersey and her twelveth win of this season.
In a tightly packed finish, World champion on the track, Tara Whitten (Canada) was at 26 seconds on a dissapointing day for her country. With three riders in the top four at one stage, the Canadian team rode away away without a medal. British based rider Julia Shaw, probably not at home in the wet and on the technical course, finished in 17th place, 1 minute 49 behind Ardnt.
1. Judith Arndt (Germany) Â Â Â 37:07
2. Linda Melanie Villumsen (New Zealand) @21 secs
3. Emma Pooley (Great Britain) Â Â Â @ 24
4. Tara Whitten (Canada) Â Â Â @ 26
5. Clara Hughes (Canada) Â Â Â @ 36
6. Eleonora Van Dijk (Netherlands) @ 38
7. Rhae-Christie Shaw (Canada) Â Â Â @ 39
8. Amber Neben (USA) @ 41
9. Emilia Fahlin (Sweden) Â Â Â @ 55
10. Marianne Vos (Netherlands) Â Â Â @ 55
17. Julia Shaw (Great Britain) 1:49
