TEAM COLUMBIA’S JUDITH ARNDT TAKES BRONZE IN WOMEN'S WORLD TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
September 24, 2008
Judith Arndt’s amazingly successful season continued at the world road race championships on Wednesday, winning the bronze medal in the
women’s time trial.
The 32 year Team Columbia rider from Germany set a time of 34-13 for the hilly 25.15km course, finishing 21 seconds behind winner Amber Neben of the USA and 14 seconds behind second placed Christiane Soeder
of Austria.
Arndt loves to win but was genuinely happy with the bronze medal.
“I’m very happy. It’s been a long and hard season with a lots of ups and down. I’m surprised to have got a medal because my preparation was not perfect and was more for the road race than the time trial. However
I felt really good, it was a beautiful course.”
Arndt set the second fastest time at the first time split after 6.6km, at the top of the main climb of the course. She was third at the second time split after 15.2km and held that place despite a strong finish
from outsider Tatiana Antoshina of Russia.
Arndt has had an amazing season in 2008. She won the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Montreal and Rund um die Nurnberger Altstadt World Cup road races on the way to winning the overall World Cup and has ridden consistently well all year.
She was sixth in the time trial in the Beijing Olympic time trial but was surprised to take bronze against riders who had specifically trained for the time trial in recent weeks.
“You really have to prepare and focus on the time trial and that’s always been my problem because I’m a professional rider and race a lot of other races,” Arndt explained.
“I think it’s more difficult now to win a medal in a time trial now because of the more specific training that is needed. Eight years ago that wasn’t the case, so I think this medal is worth more, at least for
me.”
"Other riders targeted this event but I’ve done a lot of races since Beijing. However it does mean my form is good. I won the Giro della Toscana last week and so that’s promising for the road race.”
Arndt leads a powerful German team in Saturday’s road race but named the Italians and Dutch teams as the favorites.
“I think the Italians will do well and so will the Dutch team but it’s hard to say. Last year we thought we one of favorites and we didn’t get anything. I hope we will be better this year,” Arndt said.