The U.S. national team got off to a roaring start in the 2005 world championships, putting three riders into the top 10 in Wednesday's elite women's time trial, including a bronze medal with Kristin Armstrong. Karin Thürig of Switzerland defended her title while soon-to-be retired Spanish star Joanne Somarriba took silver at 5.8 seconds off the winning pace on the 21.9km rolling course in Madrid's sprawling Casa de Campo park. Amber Neben was fifth, less than one second slower than fourth-place Judith Arndt, and Christine Thorburn was eighth to cap the U.S. team strong world's debut. "It was going to be somebody's day, and I knew that one of us was going to have that day," Armstrong said referring to the team's strong performance. "We're all really strong riders and we're all really fit, but to have that podium ride or world championship everything has to come together." Armstrong has had a fine 2005 season -- which has included victories at Sea Otter and the Pan-Am time trial championships as well as third overall at the Tour de L'Aude Feminin -- with the fastest early time, stopping the clock at 29 minutes, 30 seconds (44.534kph). The 32-year-old bested strong rides from Neben and Thorburn, and later held off Arndt and Zoulfia Zabirova (Russia) and was looking good for the win among the 38-rider field until Thurig and Somarriba knocked her into third. Armstrong was very satisfied with her ride, snagging a medal in just her second world championships start. Her strong performance reflected the almost perfect weather conditions, with temperatures in the mid-80s and a light breeze. "Most of the time in a time trial I look back and I say, 'you know, I could have done this there and this there,'" she said. "But today was one of those days where I gave it my all and there's not a spot I feel like I could have changed anything." Armstrong's sat in the "hot seat" until Somarriba stopped the clock at 28:56.88, assuring the Spanish cycling queen a silver medal on what will be her last weekend as a professional. "It's like a gold medal for me. It's extraordinary. But it won't change my mind about retiring," Somarriba said. "Apart from a few back problems for the past few years, physically, I feel I can win. My career has been great but it's been a lot of work and sacrifice, and it's not easy to keep that up. In my head I know it's time to retire." Somarriba's perfect farewell was ruined by the superior Thürig, who trimmed five seconds off the time to win in 28:51.08 (45.544kph). Thürig, a strong triathlete who was runner-up in the Hawaiian Iron Man, took her second consecutive world title with a flawless performance. Thürig was last off the start ramp and quickly set the fastest splits on the rolling Madrid course. "I went training at high altitude in the Swiss mountains for three weeks, which I haven't done before," she said. "But it turned out to be a good tactic for me."

Results
1. Karin Thürig (Swi) 28min 51.08sec
2. Joane Somarriba (Sp), at 0:05.8
3. Kristin Armstrong (USA), at 0:39.27
4. Judith Arndt (G), at 0:56.68
5. Amber Neben (USA), at 0:57.06
6. Zoulfia Zabirova (Kz), at 1:01.84
7. Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel (Nl), at 1:02.71
8. Christine Thorburn (USA), at 1:13.33
9. Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus), at 1:38.92
10. Edita Pucinskaite (Lit), at 1:41.38
11. Christiane Soeder (A), at 1:45.61
12. Edwige Pitel (F), at 1:55.39
13. Priska Doppmann (Swi), at 1:57.05
14. Oenone Wood (Aus), at 2:00.15
15. Nicole Brandli (Swi), at 2:09.34
16. Tatiana Guderzo (I), at 2:12.71
17. Susanne Ljungskog (S), at 2:13.34
18. Madeleine Sandig (G), at 2:16.01
19. Susan Palmer-Komar (Can), at 2:28.57
20. Dori Ruano Sanchon (ESP), at 2:31.04