Grace Brown beats Demi Vollering in thrilling time-trial to win World Championships

Olympic and World Champion in her final year as a professional rider. Australian Grace Brown is wrapping up her career in the absolutely best way possible as she took the victory in Zurich in a thrilling time-trial where Demi Vollering was close to beating her.

The hilly 30-kilometer long time-trial featured some climbing but also long sustained efforts on flat roads, leading to an interesting route with sections that favour different riders. Brodie Chapman was the first rider to put in a serious time to battle for the top places.

Ellen van Dijk took 39 seconds from her time, putting herself in the fight for the medals. In the first intermediate point, Grace Brown was the fastest, 6 seconds over Demi Vollering and a staggering 29 over Antonio Niedermaier - making it a two-up race for the rainbow jersey.

But as the riders descended to the lakeside and into the power flat section the situation changed dramatically. Unlike what was expected, here Vollering began to gain time on the rest of the field and was faster than Grace Brown by 8 seconds whilst

Antonio Niedermaier in the meantime put in a brilliant performance to take 42 seconds off the time of Ellen van Dijk and jump into the hot seat. Lotte Kopecky and Anna Henderson could not match the German's time but Demi Vollering came through and jumped into the lead, 48 seconds ahead of Niedermaier.

It looked like the time of the Dutchwoman was going to be enough for the rainbow jersey, but Brown rode a brilliant finale and crossed the line 16 seconds faster than Vollering, taking the gold medal. Chloé Dygert rode a strong finale as well, taking the bronze medal but almost a minute behind Brown.

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