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Kristin Armstrong of the United States
displays her gold medal at the awarding ceremony of the women's individual
time trial of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games cycling event in Beijing,
China, Aug. 13, 2008. Kristin Armstrong finished the 23.5km course with a
total time of 34:51.72 and won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Hou
Deqiang)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kristin Armstrong earned
the United States its first cycling gold at the Beijing Olympic Games, wining
the women's time trial here on Wednesday.
Armstrong, the 2006 world champion who celebrated her
35th birthday on Monday, has kept the Olympic time trial in her sight since
2005.
"It's the ride of my life. It's what I've dreamed
about since I was a little kid. I had to stay focused on the descent and really
push," Armstrong said.
In the August sweltering heat, the American
demonstrated her sprinting ability from the beginning and dashed out in the last
3km to clock a winning time of 34:51.72 for the title.
"I broke the course into little pieces and worked
corner to corner. All the work I've been doing on the track helped, too. I just
broke it into three-kilometer intervals. I worried about my own race. I wanted
to have everyone else race me," she added.
Emma Pooley of Britain took the silver in 35.16,
while the bronze went to Karin Thurig of Switzerland in 35.50 seconds.
After taking bronze in Athens four years ago, Thurig
got the chance to prove herself in Beijing. However, suffering from the heat,
the Swiss failed her mission.
"It was so hard. But I am happy to win a medal, even
it was not a gold," Thurig said.
Longo Ciprelli, the 49-year old French legend,
narrowly missed a career fifth Olympic medal by taking the fourth place in
35:52.62, less than two seconds off the podium.
The French veteran is racing in her seventh
consecutive Olympic Games.
Nicole Cooke, who won the road race last week, only
finished 15th in 37.14 seconds.
"The race was really hard. I gave my everything to
it," said Cooke. "I had to dig really deep and I think it took it out of me, but
I did my best today."
Chinese cyclist Gao Min got the 17th place in 37.15,
while her teammate Meng Lang placed 25th in 40.51.
"I did well in the beginning, but at the last several
kilometers, I lost energy and power. I had tried my best. For me, this is a good
opportunity to learn from world top cyclists," said Gao, who joined professional
team Giant two years ago.
The women's time trial, which features a climb and a
descent just beneath the Great Wall, begun with the gradual 12.5km climb up
Badaling Pass.
Twenty-five cyclists from sixteen countries and
regions competed in the 23.5km race.
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Kristin Armstrong (2nd L) of the United
States celebrates after winning the women's individual time trial of the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games cycling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008.
Kristin Armstrong finished the 23.5km course with a total time of 34:51.72
and won the gold medal of the event. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Photo Gallery>>> |
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Kristin Armstrong of the United States
rides during the women's individual time trial of the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games cycling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008. Kristin Armstrong
finished the 23.5km course with a total time of 34:51.72 and won the gold
medal of the event. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
