Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly defended their women’s B individual time trial World Championship crown, leading home an Irish one-two as Sinéad Greenan and pilot Alice Sharpe claimed silver on their world debut.
Dunlevy and Kelly completed the 29.2 km course in 36:55.48 to secure their fourth consecutive time trial title in Huntsville in Alabama on Saturday.
Greenan and Sharpe followed in 37:28.08, finishing 32.60 seconds behind their teammates and 20.71 seconds ahead of Great Britain’s bronze medallists Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable, very surreal and a huge relief,” Dunlevy said.
“I felt pressure going into the race, but to deliver the ride and come away with a fourth time trial title is the stuff of dreams.
“When you stand on the podium, all the work and sacrifices feel worthwhile. To have Sinéad and Alice there as well makes it even more special.”
Kelly added: “The conditions were brutal, like a furnace. We settled into the first four kilometres and then started to build while managing the heat over two laps. Jamie was giving us the gaps to the British bike and that gave us confidence to push harder. With two kilometres to go, we could see them ahead and gave everything to the finish. Hearing it was an Irish one two was amazing.”
Greenan said: “It’s pretty unbelievable. It feels like a dream at the moment and it’s still hard to believe, but the silver feels even sweeter after such tough conditions. The heat was the hardest part. On the second lap, I just focused on reaching each corner and telling myself there was one less to go.”
Sharpe added: “It’s amazing and I’m so proud of Sinéad. We only came together for our first World Cup in Belgium, so to already be standing on a World Championship podium is pretty special. It’s a testament to all the work she has put in. To achieve this in her first year of racing is incredible, and I’m excited to see where we can go together.”
Meanwhile, Heather Jameson finished fifth in the women’s C2 individual time trial on her World Championship debut. Jameson covered the 14.6 km course in 23:37.70, with Great Britain’s Amelia Cass taking gold in 21:17.96.
Richael Timothy placed ninth in the women’s C3 individual time trial, recording 23:04.73 over 14.6 km. China’s Xiaomei Wang won the world title in 20:43.44.
Damien Vereker and pilot Mitchell McLaughlin were eighth in the men’s B individual time trial, finishing the 29.2 km course in 35:01.57. Ciarán O’Toole and pilot Con Scully placed 11th in 36:35.28, gaining one position on the second lap. France’s Elie de Carvalho and Mickael Guichard took gold in 31:56.01.