BALLERUP, Denmark (AP) — Anna Meares of Australia won the first gold medal of the track cycling world championships in the 500-meter time trial.
Meares clocked 33.381 seconds Wednesday to win the title ahead of defending world champion Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania. Olga Panarina of Belarus was third.
Victoria Pendleton of Britain, a bronze winner last year, did not compete. She will concentrate the sprint, team sprint and keirin races.
The opening ceremony was attended by Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen.
