(Stirling) American Chloe Dygert became world champion in the time trial by five seconds on Thursday in Stirling as part of the Super Worlds of cycling in Scotland.

Already crowned in 2019, she succeeds the Dutchwoman Ellen van Dijk, who was double defending champion and who, pregnant, was absent this year.

Yet still ill in the morning, Dygert beat Australia’s Grace Brown by five seconds and Austria’s Christina Schweinberger (1 min 12 s) at the foot of Sterling Castle, an impressive 15th century building, where several Scottish kings and queens were born and succumbed.

“This title is really very special,” commented the 26-year-old American. I was still a little sick this morning, I was very worried. Yesterday, I could not have started. I spent the last few days praying to God for it to pass. »

The Swiss Marlen Reusser, announced as the main candidate for gold after her second places in 2020 and 2021 and her bronze medal last year, gave up after about twenty kilometers.

Cutting her effort, Reusser, who had crashed in the mixed relay where Switzerland clinched gold, sat in tears in a ditch, consoled by a member of her team.

This is the first time since 2019 that the world time trial title has escaped the Netherlands.

The Dutch Demi Vollering, who has just won the Tour de France women, finished in sixth place, just behind the Frenchwoman Juliette Labous who fails ten seconds from the podium.

“I was happy with my time crossing the line and I have no regrets, even when I saw afterwards that I was really very close to a medal,” said the Frenchwoman after the 36.2 km around Stirling, northeast of Glasgow, and a ruthless uphill finale on the cobbles.