Cancellara won four World Championships time trial titles between 2006 and 2010.
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The victor of four time-trial world titles earlier in his career, the Swiss was only seventh at London 2012 and has seen the likes of Germany’s Tony Martin, Great Britain’s Bradley Wiggins and Dumoulin surpass him in his recent seasons.
“When I crossed the line and knew I had a bronze I was absolutely ecstatic”.
“I haven’t done any big training rides since the end of the Tour, so I’ll probably do five or six hours to get some miles in my legs”. Russian Olga Zabelinskaya took the Silver with Anna van der Breggen in third.
It was Froome’s second bronze medal in the Olympic time trial, a disappointing result for the Tour de France champion, who finished second and first in two time trials in July and had targeted the hilly Rio course for some time.
Chris Froome, hoping to emulate compatriot Bradley Wiggins in 2012 by winning the Tour de France and Olympic gold in the space of weeks, was never able to match Cancellara’s pace.
Ashfaq, who trains in Sheffield, said: “I know I am well capable of beating guys like that, but I’m a strong believer in what is meant to be will be and it wasn’t my night. After missing out on gold in London and all the ups and downs I’ve had since then, this is just unbelievable to win the gold today”, he said.
There was no stopping Cancellara though, and with the Swiss retiring at the end of the season, it was the ideal swansong for him, with pictures capturing him as he leapt out of the leader’s throne to celebrate the victory with his team. It was a big scream on the podium.
After the agony of David Florence’s last-placed finish on Tuesday, British kayaker Clarke lit up a gloomy Whitewater Stadium with the race of his life. Since the end of the Tour de France I have been sort of tapering and trying to look after myself to come into these Olympic races the best I can.
Martin Pearman, headmaster at Laugher’s former school, said: “On behalf of everyone at Ripon Grammar School I would like to congratulate Jack on his historic achievement”.
“Fabian was the clear victor today”. Just as the USA’s Kristin Armstrong had done in the women’s time trial earlier in the day, the 35-year-old Cancellera showed that age is no impediment.
Dumoulin overcame a broken wrist in landing silver, while Cancellara repeated his victory he enjoyed in the same discipline at Beijing 2008. “After winning the Tour this summer, to be back on the Olympic podium is just awesome”.
“Today the stars aligned”, she said.
“I don’t have words to describe it”. The Brit came out to Rio specifically for the time trial, having previously concentrated on long distance duathlons and Ironman events. “I want to keep the body ticking over”.
“I can’ t be disappointed with that”.
“I did my warm-up in front of a (portable) generator, and I didn’t even notice it because I was in my own world”, he said.
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But Zabalinskaya said: “It’s very important, because it’s the Olympic Games”.
