Linda Villumsen added to her already formidable cycling CV when she picked up the silver medal in the women’s 25.5km road time trial today.
Villumsen, 33, is a road time trial specialist and is right up with the best in the world.
It is her third medal in as many Commonwealth Games – she won in Glasgow in 2014 and was a silver medallist in Delhi in 2010. At the Olympics she has placed 6th in the individual road time trial in Rio in 2016, 4th in London in 2012, and 13th in Beijing in 2008. She has also won the world title in 2015 and placed in the top 10 at the world champs nine times.
In the 25.5km event today, Villumsen had to be content with the silver medal. She finished in 36min 03.01s, which was nearly a minute behind Australian Karin Garfoot’s incredible 35min 08.09s.
The other New Zealander in the time trial was Rushlee Buchanan, who was fifth in 37min 39.28s. Buchanan finished 2min 31s behind the winner, a commendable effort for a rider who has focused almost exclusively on the track recently.
Garfoot led throughout the event, with Villumsen a clear second. She could hold the Australian, but was unable to make any ground on her.
Unlike in the men’s event earlier, the wind got up for the women’s race.
“I gave it everything I could and have no compaints,” Villunmsen said. “The wind was a real factor out there.”
The New Zealander felt she might have pushed harder in mid-race.
“There was a rider in front of me and maybe I stayed behind for a little too long. I could have passed earlier.”