Emma Pooley began her bid for individual glory in the 29-kilometre London 2012 Olympic time-trial at Hampton Court this afternoon.
Pooley, the 2010 world champion, won silver in Beijing four years ago and was seeking to go one better in London.
Lizzie Armitstead, Britain's first medallist of London 2012 after winning silver in Sunday's road race, was also in action.
At the first time check, after 9.1km, Finland's Pia Sundstedt was fastest in 14 minutes 57 seconds, with eight riders having passed the mark.
Sundstedt was the second of 24 riders to take to the course.
Olga Zabelinskaya, who won bronze in the road race behind Holland's Marianne Vos and Armitstead, bettered Sundstedt's time by 43 seconds, going through the 9.1km mark in 14mins 13secs.
The Russian was the 10th starter and Armitstead 16th, with the Briton passing the 9.1km check point 20 seconds behind. Pooley, the sixth last rider to start, then went quicker than Zabelinskaya, clocking 14:06 at the first time check.