Team Columbia Judith Arndt has followed up her bronze medal for Germany in the World Championships time trial with a bronze medal in the road race. Arndt was part of a five rider break that went clear in the final lap of the technically challenging 138.8 kilometre road-race in Varese, Italy.

A hard-fought last few kilometres saw one attack go after another, but none of them worked out. Then in the final sprint for the line, Arndt finished third behind Nicole Cooke of Great Britain and Marianne Vos of Holland.

“It was a great race, the German team were always on top of things throughout the course.” Arndt said afterwards.

“We had three of our riders in an early breakaway, then two riders [Arndt and Trixi Worrack] went again in the final move, so maybe that doesn’t look so good.”

“But we tried everything, and attacked again and again because we knew that ourrivals could sprint better than either of us.”

“That didn’t work out. However, I think we can be proud, the racing was positive, aggressive and fun.”

Arndt said Vos’s two attacks on the final lap, given the Dutchwoman’s strong final sprint, had caught her by surprise.

“It was unexpected because I know she’s so fast at the finish. But at the same time, it’s great to see such an aggressive style of racing, with people attacking all the time!”

The World Champion in 2004, Arndt admitted that it had been disappointing to come so close to taking gold for a second time in her career, “but that the others were simply better.”

“I know it’s the usual thing to say when you get beaten but it does happen to be true. It was really like that.”

“As a team we got in the breaks and did our best. That’s what matters.”