Villumsen misses podium in worlds time trial
A world-class field has denied Kiwi road cycling great Linda Villumsen a seventh world championships medal in the time trial.
Villumsen finished sixth on Tuesday in Bergen, Norway, unable to match the fastest riders in the wet on an undulating 21.1km course.
The 2015 world champion hovered from fifth to seventh throughout the technical course, clocking 29m 46s, which left her 37s outside the medals.
The time was nearly a minute slower than Dutch winner Annemiek van Vleuten, who headed off compatriot Anna van Der Breggen and Australian Katrin Garfoot.
Villumsen said she was not at her best after returning to cycling midyear after a lengthy break.
“I am a little bit disappointed in myself today. But I am looking forward to going back home and training again and getting back into that rhythm,” she said.
“I will have a little break and then really look forward to training again and see if I can make it for the Commies [Commonwealth Games].”
It is a rare non-appearance on the podium for the 32-year-old, whose first world championships medal was a bronze when riding for her native Denmark in 2009.
In total, she has won one gold, two silver and three bronze, with the breakthrough success coming two years ago in Richmond, Virginia.
Villumsen still has a shot at a medal, when she rides the women’s road race on Sunday (NZT) alongside Kiwi Georgia Williams.
The win for van Vleuten was an emotional one, coming little more than a year after a horrific accident in the Rio Olympics road race which left her with three spinal fractures.
The 34-year-old was tearful after topping the field of 54.
“The downs make the ups more beautiful, makes it really special.”