Van Dijk makes spectacular return to rainbow glory

Lowden comes sixth on Worlds TT debut

- Jonny Long, Vern Pitt

There were high emotions as Ellen van Dijk claimed her second-time trial World Championship win, eight years after her first.

The Dutchwoman burst into tears as defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten crossed the line in third place.

She said: “I didn’t know I would become so emotional but this has been a dream for so long to get that title again. This year it always felt good but I knew Marlen Reusser [who was second] was so strong; she beat me in every time trial in the last few months. I knew it was good but I had no idea if it would be good enough.”

Van Dijk had started over an hour earlier than most of the favourites and admitted that she wondered if the wind would change direction and help her rivals but that never happened. “It’s quite horrible sitting in the hot seat,” she said.

She added: “Time trialling is my favourite discipline – I love it with all my heart. I put everything into this.”