September 20, 2006 (Salzburg, Austria) — The weather in Salzburg today is overcast and 20 degrees. There is some moisture on the roads but it should dry up by midday. The women’s TT will begin shortly at 12 noon local time (6:00 am EDT). Racing for Canada are Anne Samplonius off at 12:13:30 pm and Alex Wrubleski who begins her run at 12:31:30 pm.

– 12.00pm – Poland’s Magdelena Zamolska is off as the Women’s Elite time trial begins. The sun has come out, the roads are dry and it’s turning into a beautiful day.

– 12.14pm – Canada’s Anne Samplonius is on the course.

– 12.16pm – the first rider Zamolska goes through the first check at 10.1km in 17.55 but Italy’s Silvia Valsecchi almost immediately posts a faster time of 17.03.

– 12.25pm – fastest time at the first check point is now Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic) with 15.55.

– 12.30pm – Samplonius goes through the first checkpoint in 4th position with a time of 16.30.

– 12.31pm – Canada’s Alex Wrubleski is out of the starting blocks.

– Correction – the fastest checkpoint #1 time is Denmark’s Linda Villumsen at 16.07.

– 12.39pm – the first rider home is Silvia Valsecchi (Italy) in 38.37

– 12.41pm – French legend Jeannie Longo is away.

– 12.47pm – Chinese rider Meifang Li takes a wrong turn metres from the finish but wasn’t in sight of the medals and finishes in fourth.

– 12.55pm – Aussie favourite Oenone Wood goes through the first check outside of the top ten.

– 12.57pm – the final rider, Switzerland’s Karin Thürig, is on the course.

– 13.05pm – Canada’s Samplonius currently sits in sixth place with a time of 37.36.

– 13.08pm – Lada Kozikova (CZE) currently holds the lead with 36.10

– 13.10pm – Germany’s Judith Arndt finishes and collapses with exhaustion after crossing the line – she is currently in second behind Kozikova.

– 13.21pm – Kozikova time is finally beaten, first by Priska Doppmann (Switzerland), then by Christine Thorburn (USA).

– 13.25pm – Thorburn’s time of 35.24 is beaten by compatriot’s Kristen Armstrong with 35.04.

– 13.29pm – Top three is Armstrong (USA), Thorburn (US) and Doppmann (SUI). Nicole Cooke (GBR) lies in fourth and there are just two riders to finish.

– 13.32pm – Last rider Thürig comes in second place – Armstrong wins, Thorburn third.

Update – Canada’s Alex Wrubleski crashed on course and appears to be ok but was taken to hospital – her bike was severely damaged.

Unofficial

1. Kristen Armstrong (USA)
2. Karin Thürig (SUI)
3. Christine Thorburn (USA)