Kristin Armstrong won the gold medal in the women's individual time trial last night and became the first US woman ever to win the event at the Olympic Games.
It was the US team's first medal in cycling at the Beijing games.
The 35-year-old cyclist from Boise, Idaho, headed down the platform with a determined look and caught up with the two previous starters by the finish line. That's a four-minute margin.
“This is the most amazing day of my life,” Armstrong said after the time trial. She mentioned several times that she credited her coaches for her accomplishment and being able to race with “very light equipment.” She rides a Cervelo time trial bike.
The silver medal was won by Emma Pooley of Great Britain; the bronze by Karin Thurig of Switzerland.
Hot and hazy
The 25 women raced the hilly 14.7 miles between the Badalang and Juyongguan sections of the Great Wall in hot, hazy weather beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Beijing time.
The UK's Pooley held the early lead. In fact, she was one second ahead of Armstrong at the half-way point, but Armstrong made up 25 seconds in the second half of the course.
You might remember Pooley from Sunday's road race. She's the UK rider who attacked in the road race to soften up the competition for teammate Nicole Cooke, who won the gold medal.
Scouting
Armstrong said she visited Beijing in December to check out the course.
She was one of the favorites going into the race. She finished 2nd at the world's in 2007 and 1st in 2006.
The most amazing athlete of the day, though, might be France's Jeannie Longo. The 49-year-old cyclist in her 7th Olympics finished in 4th place in the time trial, just 2 seconds out of the bronze medal.
1st gold
This is the first gold medal for the US in women's time trial, and the second gold medal ever in road cycling. Connie Carpenter-Phinney won the road race in 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles.
In 2004 in Athens, DeDe Barry won the silver medal.
Tri-athlete
Armstrong came into cycling through competing in triathlons. She was diagnosed with osteo-arthritis about seven years ago, and doctors suggested she take up a sport that wasn't as stressful on her joints.
She just celebrated her birthday on Monday, the day after she finished 25th in the women's road race. She competed in the women's road race in Athens, finishing 8th.
In case you're wondering, she is in no way related — by blood or marriage — to that outstanding male cyclist with the same last name. Interesting coincidence, though.
More about Kristin Armstrong at USA Cycling. Her website is KristinArmstrongUSA.
Video
The entire time trial was video-streamed at NBC Olympics.com, where Bicycling editor-in-chief Loren Mooney did the updates. It should be available for replay sometime in the future at the video page.
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