World Champs: Judith Arndt finally takes Gold in the Women's TT

Judith Arndt stormed to victory in the Elite Women’s time-trial, in a wet Copenhagen, beating Linda Villumsen and Emma Pooley to the top spot.

Arndt has only one second place to her name, for 2011, but showed form in a recent invitation race.  The German looked like she had the race under control from the start, passing the first check point only a handful of seconds down on the current leader Clara Hughes. She managed to keep her high pace up and benefited from other riders completing a slower second lap.

Arndt eventually crossed the line 21 seconds up on Villumsen and adds the title to her 2004 World road race title and 1997 world individual pursuit title on the track. Villumsen went out on to the road eighth places before the last rider and attacked the wet roads. The Kiwi followed Tara Whitten and trailed her by about 8 seconds, for much of the circuit.

Whitten went through to hold the lead of the race for just over a minute, before Villumsen crossed the line with three seconds to spare. Villumsen was one of the crowd favourites, as she rode under a Danish licence until 2010.  This equals her second place in the commonwealth games in 2010 and is only the second podium achieved, in New Zealand colours.

Pooley went off last, as defending champion, but even said herself she didn’t expect to be wearing the rainbow jersey at the end. She looked to be in touch with Arndt at the first two checkpoints, but she slipped back over the final lap. The Brit would have preferred a hillier course, but come home happy with her third place.

Canada will be the unhappiest nation, with three riders holding a podium spot at one stage and eventually ending up with none. Hughes didn’t look under pressure for a long time, after going out with the second group of riders. With the rain falling while she was out on course, it looked like the weather had played in to her hands. No one could even get close, but it was her compatriot Whitten who pushed her off top spot. Once the last few riders came through it was all over for the team and they will have to look to the Road Race on Saturday for medals.

Marrianne Vos' surprise time-trial appearance didn't produce a medal, but she put on a positive 10th place performance. Vos will be hoping to break her run of second places in the Road Race and take a second Gold medal in the event.