Kristin Armstrong of the US celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's individual time trial cycling competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 13, 2008. [Agencies]

BEIJING -- Kristin Armstrong earned the United States its first cycling gold at the Beijing Olympic Games, winning the women's time trial here on Wednesday.

Armstrong, the 2006 world champion who celebrated her 35th birthday on Monday, has kept the Olympic time trial in her sight since 2005.

"It's the ride of my life. It's what I've dreamed about since I was a little kid. I had to stay focused on the descent and really push," Armstrong said.

In the August sweltering heat, the American demonstrated her sprinting ability from the beginning and dashed out in the last 3km to clock a winning time of 34:51.72 for the title.

"I broke the course into little pieces and worked corner to corner. All the work I've been doing on the track helped, too. I just broke it into three-kilometer intervals. I worried about my own race. I wanted to have everyone else race me," she added.

Emma Pooley of Britain took the silver in 35.16, while the bronze went to Karin Thurig of Switzerland in 35.50 seconds.

After taking bronze in Athens four years ago, Thurig got the chance to prove herself in Beijing. However, suffering from the heat, the Swiss failed her mission.

"It was so hard. But I am happy to win a medal, even it was not a gold," Thurig said.

Longo Ciprelli, the 49-year old French legend, narrowly missed a career fifth Olympic medal by taking the fourth place in 35:52.62, less than two seconds off the podium.

The French veteran is racing in her seventh consecutive Olympic Games.

Nicole Cooke, who won the road race last week, only finished 15th in 37.14 seconds.

"The race was really hard. I gave my everything to it," said Cooke. "I had to dig really deep and I think it took it out of me, but I did my best today."

Chinese cyclist Gao Min got the 17th place in 37.15, while her teammate Meng Lang placed 25th in 40.51.

"I did well in the beginning, but at the last several kilometers, I lost energy and power. I had tried my best. For me, this is a good opportunity to learn from world top cyclists," said Gao, who joined professional team Giant two years ago.

The women's time trial, which features a climb and a descent just beneath the Great Wall, begun with the gradual 12.5km climb up Badaling Pass.

Twenty-five cyclists from sixteen countries and regions competed in the 23.5km race.