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28th Olympic Games - JO

Athens, Greece, August 14-28, 2004

Results    Men's road race    Women's road race    Men's time trial    Women's time trial

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August 18: Women's Time Trial, 24km

Leontien bounces back

Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands)
Photo ©: AFP

Triple Olympic gold medallist Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel (Netherlands) has added a fourth gold medal to her impressive collection, winning the 24 kilometre women's time trial today in Vouliagmeni. Putting a nasty crash in Sunday's road race behind her, Zijlaard-van Moorsel powered to the finish in a time of 31'11.53, 24 seconds faster than American Dede Demet-Barry and 44 seconds better than Karin Thürig (Switzerland).

"I have pain all over my body. I have a terrible headache, but I'm so happy," Zijlaard-Van Moorsel told Dutch television after the finish.

"After my crash, I told myself I didn't want to end my career like this," she added. "I've worked really hard since last year and I thought this morning I had to at least get a medal because I knew I was in shape. I had some doubts in the early part of the course and I was really suffering after the 10km mark. I was at my limit."

The Americans had a strong showing with Demet-Barry taking silver and Christine Thorburn finishing just outside the medals in fourth. It was Thorburn who set one of the early markers, getting the better of notables such as Jeannie Longo of France, who failed to finish in the medals in either the road race or time trial this year. Demet-Barry set the fastest time at both the intermediate check and at the finish, but would have to wait for favourites such as Joane Somarriba (Spain), Thürig, Van Moorsel, road race silver medallist Judith Arndt (Germany), and Zoulfia Zabirova of Russia to finish.

The women's podium
Photo ©: AFP

"I kept a little in reserve during the first half because I wanted to save some strength for the finish," Demet-Barry explained, referring to the headwind which greeted the riders for their return. "I'm very happy to be here. I've had an incredible week. I have family here, my grandfather is originally from Greece, so for me it's like coming back to my roots."

Thürig was content with her bronze medal, which despite her classification as an outsider for the podium came as a surprise. "The level of competition was very high and I didn't think I'd be able to get a medal," she admitted. "The Games have been a great experience."

Demet-Barry was able to hold the Swiss specialist Thürig at bay, but there was no stopping Van Moorsel, who stormed through the first time check nearly 30 seconds faster than the American and looked set to repeat her gold medal from the Sydney time trial four years ago. Arndt and Zabirova failed to make an impact on the fast rolling course, and thus Van Moorsel's victory was practically assured once she crossed the line with what remained the fastest time.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images click here

Images by www.epicimages.us

• Christine Thorburn (USA) rides strongly and finishes a surprising fourth in the women's time trial.
• Dede Barry (USA) riding to a second place finish, with the waters of the Mediterranean behind her.
• Gold medal winner Leontien Van Moorsel (Netherlands) hides beneath her helmet.
• Dede Barry with the silver medal in the Women's Time Trial

Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com

• Christine Thorburn (USA) turned in a powerful ride to take fourth place
• Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic) on her way to fifth
• Oenone Wood (Australia) had hoped for better than sixth place
• Lyne Bessette (Canada) finished 16th, perhaps still bruised from her road race crash
• Joane Somarriba took the Spanish colours to seventh place
• Karin Thuerig (Switzerland) showed that she's one of the world's best time trialists with the bronze
• Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) rose above the pain for first place
• Judith ARndt (Germany) looked to be having a happier time today
• Dede Barry (USA) gives it everything
• Nicole Cooke (Great Britain) seemed to find the heat a problem - it doesn't often get to 30 degrees in her native Wales!
• Oenone Wood (Australia) - all power
• Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania) en route to tenth
• The effort shows on Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel's face
• Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel wipes away a tear on the podium
• Dede Barry (USA) very happy with silver
• An emotional podium - Dede Barry (USA), Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) and arin Thuerig (Switzerland) lost in the moment

Images by AFP Photo

• Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) recovered from her road race crash to defend her Olympic time trial title
• Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) savours her gold medal in the time trial
• The women's podium: Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA, silver), Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands, gold), Karin Thürig (Switzerland, bronze)

Results

1 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands)        31.11.50
2 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA)                           0.24.09
3 Karin Thuerig (Switzerland)                         0.43.36
4 Christine Thorburn (USA)                            1.03.29
5 Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic)                     1.03.88
6 Oenone Wood (Australia)                             1.04.47
7 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spain)                      1.14.40
8 Zoulfia Zabirova (Russia)                           1.18.55
9 Priska Doppmann (Switzerland)                       1.28.94
10 Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania)                      1.30.59
11 Judith Arndt (Germany)                             1.35.41
12 Olga Slyusareva (Russia)                           1.39.53
13 Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands)                      1.50.05
14 Jeannie Longo Ciprelli (France)                    1.53.78
15 Trixi Worrack (Germany)                            1.54.19
16 Lyne Bessette (Canada)                             2.12.66
17 Susan Palmer-Komar (Canada)                        2.14.48
18 Dori Ruano Sanchon (Spain)                         2.18.10
19 Nicole Cooke (Great Britain)                       2.33.69
20 Edwige Pitel (France)                              2.50.82
21 Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)                            3.02.94
22 Anita Valen (Norway)                               3.20.41
23 Rasa Polikeviciute (Lithuania)                     3.22.95
24 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukraine)                        3.49.52
25 Susanne Ljungskog (Sweden)                         4.05.72
 
Standings after first time check (km 12)
 
1 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands)        15.08.98
2 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA)                          15.32.85
3 Karin Thuerig (Switzerland)                        15.43.12
4 Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic)                    15.47.99
5 Oenone Wood (Australia)                            15.50.43
6 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spain)                     15.50.61
7 Zoulfia Zabirova (Russia)                          15.54.84
8 Christine Thorburn (USA)                           16.00.14
9 Priska Doppmann (Switzerland)                      16.02.14
10 Judith Arndt (Germany)                            16.07.80
11 Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands)                     16.07.95
12 Olga Slyusareva (Russia)                          16.09.29
13 Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania)                     16.10.54
14 Trixi Worrack (Germany)                           16.17.43
15 Susan Palmer-Komar (Canada)                       16.17.87
16 Lyne Bessette (Canada)                            16.18.76
17 Nicole Cooke (Great Britain)                      16.19.57
18 Jeannie Longo Ciprelli (France)                   16.31.29
19 Dori Ruano Sanchon (Spain)                        16.34.43
20 Tatiana Guderzo (Italy)                           16.41.37
21 Edwige Pitel (France)                             16.44.21
22 Anita Valen (Norway)                              16.45.67
23 Rasa Polikeviciute (Lithuania)                    16.50.16
24 Susanne Ljungskog (Sweden)                        16.59.55
25 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukraine)                       17.09.99

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