Dygert puts injuries behind her to win individual time trial world title

GLASGOW: Three years after a horror crash almost ended her career, Chloe Dygert of the US won the women’s individual time trial at the cycling world championships on Thursday.

Dygert was world champion in 2019 but in a frightening accident during the defense of the title at the 2020 worlds in Imola, Italy, she careered over a roadside barrier, leading to emergency surgery on her leg.

After two further bouts of surgery her left leg is now an inch (3cm) shorter.

Dygert showed a week ago her form was back, however, by winning a track cycling gold in the individual pursuit at the velodrome in Glasgow and qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

There she did a victory lap of the track holding the American flag, little knowing she was among many who had picked up a respiratory bug at the noisy indoor event.

“I spent the last four days praying to God to be OK today,” she said after her win.

“If the race had been yesterday I’m not sure I’d have started,” said the champion, who has also undergone heart surgery and overcome a bout of the Epstein Barr virus.

Setting a pulsating early time on Thursday, the American took the title five seconds ahead of Grace Brown of Australia with Austria’s Christina Schweinberger in third, 1min 12sec off the pace.

Dygert’s blistering pace of 46min 59sec on the 36.2km course that culminated with a steep climb to the imposing Stirling Castle stunned the field with only Brown getting anywhere near the champion.

“This title is truly special,” said the 26-year-old.

“Not just for me, for everybody behind me: the team, USA Cycling, my family, my personal team, this means a lot for us. I’m really thankful.”

Pre-race favorite Marlen Reusser, a faller in the mixed relay time trial,