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Kristin Armstrong is no relation to Lance, but they do have something else in common: They're both world champion road cyclists.
The Boise racer won the women's time-trial world championships Wednesday in Salzburg, Austria. She's only the third American woman to earn that title: Karen Kurreck won in 1994, and Mari Holden took the rainbow jersey in 2000. Lance Armstrong won his men's road race world championship in 1993.
Armstrong faced a near-meltdown when the chain on her bike fell off on the 16.2-mile route's second climb. Quick action by her Team USA mechanic got her back on the road in 10 seconds.
"You can either go one way or the other," Armstrong said. "You can give up because you just lost 10 seconds, or you can use it to get a little bit of an adrenaline rush. I used it to my advantage."
Two-time champion Karen Thurig of Switzerland was 25.57 seconds back, followed by bronze medal-winner Christine Thorburn of Menlo Park, Calif.
Armstrong, who rides for the Team Lipton professional squad, considered retiring after the 2004 Olympics. She stayed on and now will wear the world champion's jersey for the next year.
"There's a different respect when you carry the rainbow stripes in the peloton," the 33-year-old said. "It's great I have them early enough to carry them for the rest of my cycling career."
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