/world sport
(CNN) -- American Amber Neben was a surprise winner of the women's time-trial at the world championships in Varese on Wednesday.
Neben scored an upset victory with a superb ride against the clock at the world championships.
Neben's team-mate Kristin Armstrong started as warm favorite to add the title to the Olympic gold she won in Beijing, but could only finish fifth over the rolling 25.15 kilometer course.
Austrian Christiane Soeder finished second to take the silver medal with Germany's Judith Arndt claiming the bronze.
Neben was ahead at all the intermediate check points and clocked a winning time of 33 minutes 51.35 seconds with Soeder eight seconds back.
The powerful Arndt was 22 seconds adrift with Armstrong, the 2006 world champion, clocking 34 minutes 16 seconds.
Britain's Emma Pooley, who took silver behind Armstrong in Beijing, claimed eighth spot.
Neben, who weighs only 48kg, was not expected to be among the contenders on a course set to favor more powerful riders, but confounded the pundits.
She said that missing out on selection for the Beijing Games acted as an added spur. "To win the rainbow jersey, it's a dream come true," she said. "I was disappointed I didn't get to ride in Beijing so I had a little motivation to get it done."
Thursday sees the men's time-trial which is set to be an open affair in the absence of defending champion Fabian Cancellara, who decided against competing in Italy, citing fatigue.
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