Simona Krupeckaitė sets new world record in women's cycling
29th March 2009
Simona Krupeckaitė. Photo courtesy AFP
PRUSZKOW, Poland (AFP) — Lithuanian Simona Krupeckaitė won the women's 500 metre time trial crown in a new world record time of 33.296sec here at the world track cycling championships on Wednesday.
Krupeckaitė started second last from the 23-strong field and powered over the two-lap event to beat early pacesetter, Australian Anna Meares, into second place for the silver medal.
In doing so Krupeckaitė beat Meares' world record of 33.588, set at the world championships in Palma de Mallorca in 2007.
Britain's reigning Olympic sprint champion Victoria Pendleton took the bronze medal in a time of 34.102.
Defending champion Lisandra Guerra of Cuba finished out of the medals in a time of 34.358.
Meares, who took Olympic sprint silver in Beijing behind Pendleton, missed last year's championships due to a broken neck.
Another Australian, emerging talent Kaarle McCulloch, finished sixth in 34.276 - a promising time that will give both her and Meares hope ahead of challenging Britain for gold in the women's team sprint on Thursday.