Seventh medal eludes Villumsen
Kiwi cyclist Linda Villumsen produced a fine performance but had to settle for sixth place in the road cycling world championships time trial in Norway.
On a rainy course in Bergen, the 32-year-old six-time medallist in the individual event put in a strong showing, but wasn’t quite able to get onto the podium, in the 54-strong field.
Villumsen started the 21.1km ride well, going through the first time check seventh fastest, then posting the fourth fastest climb time as the rain began to fall.
The 2015 gold medallist slotted into fourth place at that stage, 55.73 seconds behind eventual winner Annemiek van Vleuten, of the Netherlands (28:50.35). Two further riders surpassed her effort and Villumsen ended 37 seconds outside of a podium spot.
Returning to the sport mid-year after a lengthy break following the Rio Olympics, Villumsen maintained her near-decade record of top-10 efforts, but admitted she was hoping for better.
‘‘It was a tough course,’’ she said. ‘‘It was never flat, which we knew because we did the team time trial two days ago on part of the same course. It was always up or down and no flat road or rhythm to be found so it was tough.
‘‘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. 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].’’
Villumsen, who placed fifth in the team time trial, will line up in the 153-km road race on Sunday with fellow Rio Olympian Georgia Williams.
‘‘The road race is even harder and I’ve heard about the big climb,’’ Villumsen said.
‘‘I have really tried to focus just on one race at a time. I don’t know what is actually coming, apart from a tough race.
‘‘Worlds is always a different race. It is not so much about who can get away, rather who can stay till the end. It will be good to see if Georgia and myself can make it through to that last selection of riders.’’
Meanwhile, Cycling New Zealand Performance Hub duo Oscar Elworthy and Ben Hamilton finished 26th and 35th, respectively, in the men’s junior individual time trial.
Elworthy - the national junior time trial champion - finished one minute and 20 seconds behind winner Thomas Pidcock, of Great Britain, while Hamilton was a further 24 seconds back.
The pair will now join up to tackle the 135-km road race at the weekend, while overnight Olympic and world champion rower Hamish Bond was to tackle the elite men’s time trial in his first international cycling event.