Women's Time Trials
ZABIROVA Scores Minor Upset in Women's Time Trial
Russia's Zulfiya ZABIROVA pulled a minor upset in winning the first-ever Olympic road cycling time trial gold medal. A huge upset was in the making when the fourth rider out, Finland's Tea VIKSTEDT-NYMAN's time of 38:24 held for 16 riders. Racers are ranked according to their past performances, with the favorites going last. Finally, ZABIROVA, the fifth to last rider, posted a time of 36:40 -- good enough for a gold medal. Jeannie LONGO-CIPRELLI (FRA), the gold medalist in the road race, won the silver with a ride of 37:00 with Clara HUGHES (CAN) 13 seconds behind her.
Medalists: Gold -- Zulfiya ZABIROVA (RUS) 38:24; Silver -- Jeannie LONGO-CIPRELLI (FRA) 37:00; Bronze -- Clara HUGHES (CAN) 37:13.
"I didn't have the legs today. I felt kind of flat. Time trialing is a very specialized discipline which requires special training," said Jeanne GOLAY (USA) who finished 16th of 25 as a last minute replacement for Rebecca TWIGG.
Spain Takes Gold and Silver in Road Cycling Time Trials
Miguel INDURAIN (ESP), five-time Tour de France winner, won the gold medal in the road cycling time trials. Europe's leading rider finished the 32.44 mile course in 1:04:05. Fellow Spaniard Abraham OLANO took the silver with a time of 1:04.17. Great Britain's Chris BOARDMAN took the bronze with a 1:04.36 ride. Italy's Maurizio FONDREIST set the early mark to beat at 1:05.01 despite running into rain midway through his ride. INDURAIN, who did not fare well earlier in the men's road race, had clear weather. Lance ARMSTRONG (USA), co-favorite, did not fare as well, finishing sixth with a time of 1:06.28.
Medalists: Gold - Miguel Indurain (ESP) 1:04.05; Silver - Abraham OLANO (ESP) 1:04.17; Bronze - Chris BOARDMAN (GBR) 1:04.36.
"INDURAIN wants to win an Olympics. He's a superb athlete. Cycling is the hardest sport in the world. These guys are sort of the hardest men intheworld. INDURAIN sort of makes us sick because he is a really nice bloke and he is a true champion," said Chris BOARDMAN (GBR).
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