(3 August 1996; Day 15)
With the infusion of professional riders into road cycling's ranks, competition soared and, after the road race, the favorites plummeted. However, after the time trials, all is right again in the cycling universe.
On the road race's flat, forgiving course, cycling's elite floundered as the peloton stayed tightly bunched. Without major hills to spread out the field nor teammates to aid them, the favorites became marked men -- blocked in and pursued.
All that changed in the time trials. In its premier as a medal event, the time trials pitted rider against the clock. No one to draft behind. No one to set the pace. Just four laps (two for the women) of the road circuit for the riders to attack flat out.
The outcome was close to that predicted by the international cycling federation's choices for start order in the race. Cyclists started in 90-second intervals with the favorites riding last. The College of Commissaires (officials of the internation cycling federation) ranked the riders by past performances including the Tour de France, world championships and world cup events.
INDURAIN, a giant in both stature and reputation, knew the time he had to beat and was the 40th and final rider. By that time, the rain had cleared and he proved why he is regarded as the best rider in the world.
"INDURAIN wants to win an Olympics. He is a superb athlete. Cycling is the hardest sport in the world. These guys are sort of the hardest men in the world," said Chris BOARDMAN (GBR)."INDURAIN sort of makes us sick because he's a really nice bloke and he is a true champion."
Time splits after each 8.1 mile lap showed BOARDMAN had the best times in the firs two laps. But INDURAIN was fastest in the third lap, bettering BOARDMAN by 12 seconds and fellow Spaniard Abraham OLANO by 20 seconds. OLANO took second and BOARDMAN settled for the bronze.
In the women's race, the riders made two laps for a total of 16.22 mile course. For most of the day it seemed an upset was in the making. The fourth rider out, Tea VIKSTEDT-NYMAN set the fastest time and her time of 38:24 withstood 16 other riders in the 25 rider field.
Zulfiya ZABIROVA (RUS), finally broke through with a gold medal ride of 36.40. She rode fifth to last. Jeannie LONGO-CIPRELLI, the gold medalist in the road race, finished at 37:00 as the last cyclist to ride. Canadian Clara HUGHES, who rode second to last, took the bronze with a ride of 37:13.
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Nancy Smith.
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| Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Games involved a crew of 2,100 who worked with more than 3,500 performers as well as thousands of athletes who celebrated on the field of Olympic Stadium. |