by Justin Davis

VARESE, Italy, Sept 23, 2008 (AFP) – American Kristin Armstrong will
kick start the USA’s bid for medal glory at the world road race championships
here on Wednesday when she starts as favourite for the women’s time trial.

Armstrong, who is no relation to her namesake Lance, joined a select club
of elite cyclists when she won gold in Beijing last month – adding the Olympic
crown to her world time trial title from 2006.

A regular podium finisher at the annual championships, Armstrong finished
third at Madrid in 2005 and took silver last year when Germany’s Hanka
Kupfernagel won gold in Stuttgart.

With male compatriots Levi Leipheimer and David Zabriskie also poised to
challenge in the men’s race against the clock on Thursday, the US feel
confident Armstrong can set the medals pace on the second day of competition.

“The women’s squad is one of the strongest we’ve assembled,” said Pat
McDonough, USA Cycling Director of Athletics.

“All three of our athletes are capable of winning a medal in the time
trial.”

In Beijing, Armstrong admitted that losing the right to wear the coveted
world champion’s rainbow jersey she had won in 2006 had inspired her gold bid
at the Games.

“At Stuttgart it was difficult to give up the rainbow jersey, but it was a
blessing in disguise,” she said.

“It was a kind of wake up call that I just can’t show up and win. It
remotivated me and made me focus on the little things.”

But having achieved her childhood dream last month, Armstrong’s rivals -
including Britain’s Emma Pooley and Swiss specialist Karin Thurig – won’t make
it easy for the American on a course which should prove easier than Beijing.

At 25.150 km long, the women’s course climbs steadily over the first 6.6km
before descending and then taking on a more rolling profile.

Pooley finished only 24secs behind Armstrong on a hillier course at the
Games while Thurig was nearly a minute off the American’s pace, at just over a
second faster than French veteran Jeannie Longo.

Dutch phenomenon Marianne Vos, who failed to live up to her hopes at the
Games’ road events, will be hoping that the stunning setting of Varese proves
more to her liking than the finish line of the Great Wall of China.