Monica Valvic won Norway's first world title in a road race by beating Belgium's Patsy Maegerman and Jeanne Golay of the United States at the World Cycling Championships today.
The 23-year-old Norwegian cyclist won the individual road race at ease, crossing the finish line with her arms raised."I'm good in sprints but I did not expect this victory. I'm so lucky to wear this jersey today," Valvic said after wearing the rainbow jersey.
"I'm so happy today, it's an unbelievable victory."
Maegerman won the silver medal, and Golay took the bronze as the U.S. team captured a medal in four consecutive road races at road cycling World Championships.
Valvik launched her winning sprint 120 yards from the finish in this town along the northern coast of Sicily.
The leading cyclists reached the last kilometer a group of seven, including four-time world champion Jeannie Longo of France who, in the penultimate lap, piled up a peak advantage of 33 seconds.
Golay, a 32-year-old veteran cyclist from Hollywood, Fla., won her second bronze in three days.
She was in the American quartet that placed third in Sunday's 31-mile team time trial in Palermo.
Valvik completed seven laps, or a total distance of 531/2 miles, in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 3 seconds.