Olympic Road Race - Battle Royal

Saturday, 09 August 2008 22:33

Most single day races in the world these days are a battle. Early on in the European season the single day classics, the monuments to cycling, are a battleground as they are unrelenting and fierce. However, the Olympic road race started off like a Sunday social ride. The defending champion Paolo Bettini spent more time at the back with his team car chatting with his director, two no names were off the front taking time and the rest of the field seemed intent on doing as little to either race or bring back the escapees. But all that changed dramatically.

The roll out of the Olympic road race was 70km of flat roads, a mere entree into what was to come. The main course was the seven laps of a course that would prove to be deadly to many of the riders including the 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador who did not feature in the race. The race rolled along and the breaks came and went. At one point, Jens Voight (Ger) had pulled a group of 26 riders clear including the winner of the '08 Tour Carlos Sastre. They looked very threatening and as the course continued to wind itself around the area of the Great Wall all thoughts turned to who out of this group might win. Behind, the big teams of Spain and Italy were content to wait.

With 70km to go the group had had enough and had reeled in the group leaving only a couple of riders out front who were not given any leverage by the bunch. With 19km to go Cadel Evans went off the front and the final selection was made. With 15 riders remaining the last split left five off the front to sort out the medals. Andy Schleck (Lux) took Davide Rebellin (It), Samuel Sánchez (Spa), Michael Rogers (Aus) and Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) with him and the five riders broke clear. Kolobnev and Rogers got dropped bt never gave up the hunt as Rogers set about making up the 12 second deficit to the three leaders.

The race's final twist was provided by Fabian Cancellara (Swi) who, with a stunning burst of power had broken away from the group and bridged across to the leaders bringing up with him Rogers and Kolobnev. So with the scene set the final kilometre was raced by the six. The end result was a Sanchez victory and a second place finish by Davide Rebellin on his 37th birthday. Andy Schleck came across the line banging his handlebars after a lost opportunity. Schleck needs to back himself fully for once. He was clearly one of the strongest but blew his chance with some average tactics. He was the one to final off the bunch further down the last climb but missed his opportunity and therefore the medals.

A very tough day in the office for the Olympic riders. With humidity in the 90's for most of the day and a course that was considered one of the toughest in history, the field knew to take it easy in the first 70km. Spain and Italy promised so much and delivered on that promise.

Men's Results 245km