Silver medal for Villumsen

7:28 pm on 10 April 2018

New Zealand road cyclist Linda Villumsen wasn't able to defend her Commonwealth Games gold medal but is still pleased with her silver in the women's time trial.

New Zealand road cyclist Linda Villumsen

New Zealand road cyclist Linda Villumsen Photo: Simon Wilkinson - simon@swpix.com

It came a couple of hours after rowing convert Hamish Bond won bronze in the men's time trial on the Gold Coast.

By the time the women's event commenced the conditions were gusty.

The Gold medallist from Glasgow rode well clocking just over 36 minutes in the 25 kilometre race, to put herself in the gold medal position.

But along came Australian favourite Katrin Garfoot, heading home Villumsen by 55 seconds.

New Zealand team-mate Rushlee Buchanan came fifth.

Villumsen said she was happy to get on the podium.

"It's always hard, you don't know where you'll stand when you go to an event like this and the build-up hasn't been ideal but I'm really pleased for today."

Villumsen said she knew it was going to be difficult to beat the home favourite.

The 33-year-old said she would have preferred a course that was more technical.

"I do prefer a fast course with lots of corners and then of course I need to sort of know where I'm going. Today I slowed down a few times where I maybe could have gone a bit faster but again the more technical the better usually for myself."

"Every time trial is different ...but today a silver medal on this course, I am very happy."

The 33-year-old competes in the road race at the weekend.