Swiss cyclist Cancellara strikes gold in time trial
Retiring cyclist Fabian Cancellara has scored Switzerland’s first gold medal at the Olympic Games in Rio. In the time trial, he tackled the hilly 54km coastline course in 1 hour, 12 minutes and 15.42 seconds.
The triumph comes eight years after winning a gold medal at the Beijing Games, and just weeks after pulling out of the Tour de France – which passed through his native Bern, Switzerland, last month.
Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands), took silver on Wednesday, having opted to compete despite breaking his hand during Le Tour, while Tour de France winner Chris Froome (Britain) won bronze.
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Olympic champion….. What a crazy day. #goldExternal link i am so proud and still without words pic.twitter.com/N9KXe2YgmaExternal link
— Fabian cancellara (@f_cancellara) August 10, 2016External link
More than a year ago, 35-year-old Cancellara announced that this would be his final season as a competitive cyclist. He began weeping in rainy Rio as soon as Froome – the last rider of the day – crossed the finish line.
Cancellara is the second Swiss athlete to win a medal in Rio. On Tuesday, Heidi Diethelm Gerber of canton Thurgau won the bronze medal in 25 metre pistol shooting.
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