News

Olano wins 1998 World Cycling Championship time trial, Armstrong fourth

The Spanish rider Abraham Olano today won the 1998 World Cycling Championship time trial.

Less than two weeks after his fourth place finish at the Tour of Spain, perhaps the most impressive of his career, the United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team's Lance Armstrong stormed to a fourth place finish in the time trial at the world cycling championships today in Valkenburg, Holland.

Armstrong turned in a time of 55 minutes and 28 seconds over the 43.5 kilometer course, finishing 56 seconds back of race winner Abraham Olano of Spain. Armsrong's U.S. Postal Service teammates, Jonathan Vaughters and Viatcheslav Ekimov, both turned in solid rides as well. Vaughters, 15th in the race last year, placed seventh overall while Ekimov finished ninth.

While Olano turned in the top times at every checkpoint, Armstrong and Vaughters were both challenging for the lead throughout the race. At the second checkpoint, at 27.6 kms, Armstrong and Vaughters were both just 13 seconds back. At 36.1 kms, Armstrong was at 27 seconds, just one second behind second place.

The World Cycling Championships conclude Sunday with the men's elite road race.

© 1998 Roadcycling.com. All rights reserved.