by Justin Davis

MENDRISIO, Switzerland, Sept 23, 2009 (AFP) – American Kristin Armstrong and Jack Bobridge of Australia proved Wednesday that age is no concern when they both claimed time trial gold on the first day of the world road race championships.

Bobridge, a 20-year-old up and coming road racer whose aim in the run-up to the London Games in 2012 is to put Australia back among track cycling’s greats, underlined his class by winning the men’s under-23 time trial.

Sixteen years might separate Armstrong from the young south Australian but the time trial is often known to favour more ‘experienced’ riders, as well as being dominated by younger specialists.

The gap in years certainly did not stop the 36-year-old from Idaho, the reigning Olympic champion, from crushing her rivals in the elite women’s event to reclaim the rainbow jersey she last won in 2006.

Armstrong timed 35min 26sec for the undulating 26.8km course to leave Italian Noemi Cantele, 28, in second at 55secs with Denmark’s Linda Villumsen, 24, at 58 in third place.

While Armstrong has concentrated this season on helping some younger teammates at her Cervelo Test team find their feet in the women’s peloton, her impending retirement gave her the spur she needed on the day.

“I had a little extra motivation today because I am retiring. This is my last week of racing and I wanted to give everything I possibly could,” said Armstrong who is no relation to seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.

While she is set to retire after the women’s elite road race on Saturday, Bobridge is just beginning what should be a long and successful career among the European elite.

After claiming a host of track cycling titles at national and Oceania level in recent years, Bobridge’s dream is to forge a road career like many of his Australian peers.

But despite signing with American Pro Tour team Garmin, Bobridge said one of his priorities during his initial two-year spell with the team will be to prepare on the track for the London Olympics.

“The reason I joined Garmin was because they’re dedicated to supporting my track ambitions for the next couple of years, up to London in 2012,” said Bobridge.

“That’s one of my major goals but I’m also looking forward to getting to Europe to race among the pros (on the road).

“I would love to race in all the Grand Tours (of France, Italy and Spain) but obviously I still have to see if I can step up to that level.”

Having been crowned the kings of the Athens velodrome in 2004, Australia are now the paupers of the sport and walked away from Beijing with only one medal as Britain won seven golds from the ten on offer.

Bobridge, who specializes in the individual and team pursuit events, the latter being particularly coveted by Australia, wants to redress the balance in the English capital.

“The GB team has upset the track hierarchy for the past couple of years but the support we’re getting now is going to help bring us back on top,” added Bobridge.

“Give us three years and we’ll be back to show that we’re the best trackies in the world.”

The men’s time trial over 49.8km is the only race on the second day of the competition Thursday.