23 Sep 2015

Villumsen wins world gold medal

2:16 pm on 23 September 2015

Six years after picking up her first World Championship medal the New Zealand cyclist Linda Villumsen is a world champion.

Cyclist Linda Villumsen celebrates gold.

Cyclist Linda Villumsen celebrates gold. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 30-year-old Danish born cyclist won the individual time trial at the World Road Championships in Virginia on Wednesday morning.

Villumsen finished 2.5 seconds ahead of Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands with another five seconds back to Lisa Brennauer of Germany.

She had previously won two silver medals and three bronze medals in the event and was fourth at the 2012 Olympics, while she took out the gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games last year.

"I woke up with extra motivation, but I didn't quite think I was going to win, I was more thinking about placing again," she said.

The American Kristen Armstrong was the early leader, while Villumsen was one of the seeded riders and went away near the end of the 30km timed event.

Villumsen said she liked the course.

"It was a little bit technical, there was a bit of wind, a hill and pretty much a bit of everything and it was a bit longer which I think helped me."

"When I saw that I had bettered Armstrong's time I thought this is pretty good, but I wasn't happy until the last rider finished."

"It's just incredible, unreal, every year I have been so near the top and to finally be at the top is incredible."

Villumsen was born in Denmark and became a New Zealand citizen in 2009.

She is now aiming towards the Rio 2016 Olympics.