UPDATEEllen van Dijk became world champion in the time trial for the third time at the World Cycling Championships in Wollongong, Australia. After her previous world titles in 2013 and last year, the 35-year-old Woerdense was unapproachable on the 34.2 kilometer course and finished in 44.28. The silver was for the Australian Grace Brown, at 12 seconds. Marlen Reusser, the Swiss who kept Van Dijk from the European title last month, was 41 seconds slower than the Dutch and did not go further than bronze.
Van Dijk had physically prepared himself thoroughly for the World Cup time trial. But she knows her third world title, won on Sunday, from the mental aspect. ,,I had a great year in the rainbow jersey. This was actually not my route. I thought: I’ll give everything and it would be nice to get on the podium,” said Van Dijk after successfully defending her title, which was won in Bruges last year. In Florence she had already been the best in the world in 2013.
Van Dijk had traveled to Australia before competitors such as the Australian Grace Brown, the Swiss Marlen Reusser and Annemiek van Vleuten, all three of whom had ridden the Vuelta for women. ,,I prepared well with my coach Josu Larrazabal and my friend Benjamin. But I’ve always thought: if it doesn’t work, I’ve still had a good year,” said Van Dijk, who also set a new world hour record earlier this year.
Van Vleuten seventh
Olympic time trial champion Annemiek van Vleuten, who won the world title in 2017 and 2018, did not have the good day she had hoped for beforehand. She couldn’t compete with the best and finished seventh. On Twitter, Van Vleuten (39) expressed her surprise at her disappointing performance. “Definitely not my best day on the bike unfortunately,” she wrote. “I have no idea why I didn’t have the strength I normally have in a time trial.”
Annemiek van Vleuten
@AvVleuten
Shirin van Anrooij was the first Dutch to start. She finished thirteenth in the standings. She was second in the promises. The Italian Vittoria Guazzini, who was beaten by Van Anrooij at the European Championships in July, was the fastest among the under-23 riders.
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