With the individual time trials starting today, there was plenty of activity readying the start house and checking bikes this morning.
The first of the Junior Women could only bide their time in foldable chairs before the event got underway.
Canada’s Gillian Ellsay was the second rider to hit the 15km course.
Ida Jansson of Sweden followed.
American Chloe Dygert took off 9th and set the time to beat at 20:18.
Daria Pikulik of Poland.
As I watched the women getting ready in the start house area, a gentleman struck up a conversation with me and appreciated my dedication to the sport. Here to work at the race, he invited me for a lap around the course in a race vehicle. (THANKS AGAIN!)
I hopped in and as we waited our turn to enter the course, a race official said she wanted us to follow the second Canadian rider, Emeliah Harvie, and asked if we’d mind, fully unaware that I am Canadian!
Harvie swung a turn.
A slight descent on tree-lined Monument Avenue.
The neutral Shimano service crew relaxed while they were not needed.
Harvie started to pick up the pace.
Approaching the bridge over the James River.
Flying by the Richmond skyline.
Heading towards downtown once more, the young Canadian started to slip a little as fatigue crept into her muscles.
Pedaling downhill through the Richmond.
Cornering before hitting the Governor Street climb.
The final kilometer included the Governor Street hill and a lengthy false flat.
The finish line in sight, Harvie stopped the clock in time to hit 10th place.
Anna-Leeza Hull, a pre-race favorite, just starting her TT.
Norway’s Susanne Andersen about to catch Eduador’s Ana Suarez.
Yumi Kajihara finished in 11th.
Juliette Labous rode to 5th place.
One of the last riders to start, American Emma White was the only rider to approach her compatriot’s best time, but even she was 1:05 off the pace. White earned silver, an improvement from her 5th place at the 2014 Worlds.
Aafke Soet came in 6th.
Hull won bronze for the second consecutive year.
Pernille Mathiesen, runner up in 2014, just missed the podium this year.
After a nervous morning in the hot seat watching 28 riders challenge her performance, Dygert won the gold medal and the rainbow jersey.
1st Chloe Dygert
2nd Emma White
3rd Anna-Leeza Hull
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