The 36-year-old Arndt, who won silver in the Olympic time trial in London and plans to retire at the end of the season, finished the 24.1 kilometres race in 32min 26.46sec to retain the title she had won in Copenhagen 12 months ago. 

On Sunday (September 16) she had been part of the Specialized-Lululemon time that won the women's team trial. 

"I'm very proud I was able to defend my title but that won't change my mind," said Arndt, who had also won the road race in Verona in 2004. 

"After this year I'm done."

She finishes her career with a total of 10 World Championship and three Olympic medals, two silver and a bronze.

"I'm relieved that my career is over, I've had enough," said Arndt.

Judith Arndt on her way to retaining her world time trial title

American rider Evelyn Stevens was second, 33.77sec behind Arndt, with New Zealand's Linda Melanie Villumsen third, pipping Britain's Emma Pooley, who had won the title in 2010 and the bronze last year. 

"Judith earns the gold," said Stevens.

"She's been top class her whole career."

The time trial route went from the cobbled streets of Eijsden through the hills of the Limburg province, ending in a brutal climb up the Cauberg hill in Valkenburg.

Arndt powered up the Cauberg, the most famous hill in Dutch cycling, to seal her second consecutive world champion's rainbow jersey in front of thousands of cheering fans.

Britain's Elinor Barker celebrates her victory in the junior women's time trial - one better than last year

Earlier, Britain's Elinor Barker had won the junior world time trial.

The 18-year-old Welsh rider claimed the coveted rainbow jersey by the huge margin of 53sec over the 15.6km course ahead of silver medallist Cecile Ludwig from Denmark with Alicia De Jong from Holland taking bronze.

The teenager, who picked up a silver medal in the junior under-19 women's time trial a year ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, was among the favourites to strike gold in today's event.

Barker, already gold medallist on the track at the European Championships this year, backed that up at last month's World Junior Championships at Invercargill, New Zealand.

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