2023-08-10 16:37:00
Antonia Niedermaier beamed all over her face, her recently re-inserted teeth sparkled under the splint that was still necessary. The German cycling talent rushed to the U23 gold medal in the individual time trial at the World Championships just a month following her serious fall at the Giro d’Italia.
The 20-year-old relegated her youngsters to second place on Thursday following 36.2 demanding kilometers with start and finish in Stirling, Scotland, in 49:27.26 minutes.
In the elite ranking with all world-class riders, Niedermaier even secured a strong eleventh place with the confident victory of the American Chloe Dygert (46:59.80).
“It’s unbelievable, it really means a lot to me to be on the top of the podium here at the World Championships,” said Niedermaier in the finest Bavarian: “I really wouldn’t have thought it following the fall at the Giro. I only had two weeks to prepare me.”
Highlights: Dygert is crowned world champion
Niedermaier defeats Kerbaol
The U23 riders are part of the elite race at world championships, but they win the medals in a separate ranking. There, Niedermaier prevailed once morest Cedrine Kerbaol from France (+7.85 seconds) and Julie de Wilde (+39.13) from Belgium.
In muggy conditions, Niedermaier seized her chance in her first World Championship race.
In the shadow of the stars around the Dutch Tour de France Femmes winner Demi Vollering, she set strong intermediate times on the flat country roads, and she also impressively mastered the final ramp with a gradient of twelve percent in places.
Niedermaier with a strong season
Niedermaier only made his World Tour debut at the Giro in Italy and immediately won a stage. After her surprise victory, she fell on the following section when a competitor lost control and took Niedermaier with her.
The German U23 time trial champion fell on her face, bleeding profusely, and had to be taken away by ambulance.
The active ski mountaineer was soon back on her bike, and Niedermaier didn’t want to miss the chance of her first world championship.
Golden moment: Niedermaier crowned U23 world champion
The Rosenheimer also prevailed once morest the experienced Mieke Kröger in Scotland, the German champion finished 18th following her twelfth place last year, 3:07.40 minutes behind the winner Dygert.
However, Niedermaier is not allowed to celebrate for long. The road race at the end of the World Cup is already on Sunday.
Niedermaier will also start there, this time in the shadow of Liane Lippert and Ricarda Bauernfeind, who each won a stage in the Tour de France Femmes. But that seems to be Niedermaier anyway.
Drama regarding top favorite: Reusser gets off the bike and cries bitterly
1691693699
#Cycling #World #Cup #Antonia #Niedermaier #wins #U23 #gold #medal #Chloe #Dygert #time #trial #world #champion
