Neben Wins Elite Time Trial

Varese, Italy - Former Husker distance runner and now professional cyclist Amber Neben won the gold in the elite women’s time trial at road worlds on Wednesday, Sept. 24, in Varese, Italy. Neben finished the 25.15km (15.63 miles) course in 33:51.35, just 7.56 seconds ahead of Christiane Soeder of Austria.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

U.S. teammate and Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong was the favorite coming in, but with Armstrong finishing fifth, Neben picked up the pace for the Americans.

“I don’t have any words, I’m just so excited, so happy,” Neben said. “I cannot speak right now, I don’t know what to say. It’s a dream come true.”

Neben becomes the fourth U.S. women to win the world time trial title since competition began in 1994. Armstrong won in 2006, Mari Holden won in 2000 and Karen Kurreck in 1994.

Neben recently competed for the United State in the women’s road race at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, finishing 33rd overall and only 53 seconds behind gold medalist Nicole Cooke of Great Britain.

Neben competed for the Big Red from 1993 to 1995, when a stress fracture forced her out of competitive running and into cycling. The Anaheim, Calif., native finished second at the 2004 team trial, missing a spot on the U.S. Olympic team by eight seconds. Neben won the U.S. national road race in 2003 and has either won or placed in most major UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) races across Europe over the last three years.