Arndt finally wins Worlds time trial gold

German Judith Arndt won the World Championships time trial title in Copenhagen on Tuesday. The title came after 15 years of top level racing, which included Olympic and Worlds medals.

"I am not surprised by the win, but I am very happy," Arndt told Cycling Weekly. "I won the last three or four time trials I've done this year, I think I was one of the favourites."

Arndt raced through the rain-soaked, 27.8-kilometre course in 37 minutes and 7.38 seconds. She topped the previous best time from New Zealand's Linda Melanie Villumsen by nearly 22 seconds. Defending champion, Brit Emma Pooley was the last finisher, with a time good enough for a bronze medal.

Arndt, 35 years old, won her first time trial title and added to a road race title from 2004 in Verona, Italy.

"I've chased it for many years," Arndt said in the press conference. "I won my first title on the track in 1997. I can't tell you how long I've been wanting this. After the finish, I was overcome, dizzy."

She took the first lap cautiously and pushed the pace higher on the second lap, taking risks on the damp corners and crosswalks.

"I had to push it," she said. "I went all out."

Pooley finished 24.13 seconds back from Arndt one year after taking gold for Great Britain. She found the course, mostly flat, difficult and she praised Arndt for her win.

"Judith," said Pooley, "deserves it."

Arndt won three time trials this year: the Giro della Toscana stage, the Chrono Champenois and the Memorial Davide Fardelli.

She won medals at three other World Championships: bronze in 1997 in San Sebastián, silver in 2003 in Hamilton and silver in 2004 in Verona.

In 2004, she also won the road race title, two weeks after winning the silver medal at the Athens Olympics.