Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial
New Zealand’s, Linda Villumsen, realizing that she was going to win the ITT
Linda Villumsen of New Zealand was finally able to claim her first rainbow-colored jersey this afternoon as she won the Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial with a time of 40:29.87. The 30-year-old Kiwi has been on the podium for second and third place finishes many times in the past, but she finally was able to stand on the podium as the winner. She outlasted second place finisher, Anna Van der Breggen of the Netherlands, by a slim margin of 2.54 seconds. Last year’s winner, Lisa Brennauer of Germany, took home the bronze medal.
42-year-old American, Kristin Armstrong, was in first place for a long time as she was the second person to be released during onto the 18.6 mile track. She set the time of 40:50:45, but was not able to hold on to the lead as Villumsen and three other cyclists shattered her time resulting in a fifth place finish.
“Kristin is someone that I have looked up to for many years,” Villumsen said. “Being ahead of her was a special feeling. Every minute was a very long minute [being in the hot seat]. Sitting there waiting for everyone was very hard.”
All three women will be in the Women’s Elite Road Race this Saturday.
Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial
Germany’s, Leo Appelt, wins the Men’s Junior Elite ITT
Germany’s Leo Appelt took home the gold medal in today’s UCI Men’s Junior’s Individual Time Trial. Appelt finished with a time of 37:45:01. Americans, Adrien Costa and Brandon McNulty filled out the rest of the podium respectively.
The 18-year-old German was the 18th cyclist out of 57 to be released as each cyclist was released every 30 seconds. He was able to get off to fast start early and was able to set the pace for the other cyclist. Appelt winning the time trial considered an upset by the many people. Appelt was also surprised by the outcome.
“I was surprised too,” Appelt said. “I still can’t believe it. I just did my race. I was fast and I am surprised.”
“Leo was not someone that we were looking out for, because he had not seen him at the early season European races,” Brandon McNulty said. “But, obviously we should have been looking out for him.”
Even in defeat, the two American cyclist were still excited to take home the silver and bronze medal describing it as awesome.
“The women yesterday set a pretty high bar for us,” McNulty said. “We wanted to do what they did yesterday, but two guys on the podium is hard to beat.
“You can’t do better that one and two, but getting second and third after our performances all year shows that we are consistent and we are able to be up there on the podium all the time,” Adrien Costa said.
All three cyclists will hit the road again on Saturday for the Men’s Junior Elite Road Race.
