Zijlaard Wins Time Trial
Make that three gold medals for Leontien Zijlaard of the Netherlands. The Dutch star finished the women's individual time trial in 42:00.781 Saturday, completing a remarkable two weeks of riding. Mari Holden of the United States won the silver medal, while Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli of France finished third.
Russia's Ekimov Win's Men's Time Trial
Lance Armstrong's hunt for a gold medal came up a bit short Saturday. The U.S. cycling star settled for bronze in the men's time trial. Viacheslav Ekimov of Russia finished the course in 57:40.420 to grab the gold medal. Jan Ullrich of Germany added a silver medal to his collection.
Ullrich Win's Men's Road Race
Germany's Jan Ullrich grabbed the Olympic title in the men's road race Wednesday, eclipsing a field that included two-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. Alexandr Vinokurov of Kazakhstan was second over the 239-kilometer course and Andreas Kloeden of Germany was third. Armstrong finished 13th, about 90 seconds off Ullrich's winning time of 5:29.08.001.
Zijlaard Wins Women's Road Race
Switching cycling disciplines, Leontien Zijlaard of the Netherlands won another gold medal Tuesday, claiming the women's road race. She won gold and silver -- and set a new world record in the individual pursuit event -- during earlier competition at the Dunc Gray velodrome. She'll go for her fourth medal of the games Saturday in the women's time trial.
France Hauls in Mountain Bike Gold
French cyclists aren't stopping at success in the velodrome. Miguel Martinez raced to gold in the men's mountain bike cross-country event Sunday. The silver went to Flip Meirhaeghe of Belgium and the bronze to Christophe Sauser of Switzerland.
Pezzo Wins Opening Mountain Bike Event
Italy's Paolo Pezzo claimed gold as Olympic cycling shifted to the mountain bike events. She won the cross-country event Saturday, finishing ahead of Barbara Blatter of Switzerland and Margarita Fullana of Spain.
Track Competition Concludes with Triple Gold
Three gold medals were distributed Thursday at the Dunc Gray velodrome as the track cycling wrapped up with a pair of races that delighted the home crowd. Brett Aitken and Scott McGrory gave Australia its first cycling gold in 16 years by winning the madison title, and Australian Gary Neiwand took silver in the keirin race behind France's Florian Rousseau. It was the second gold of the games for Rousseau. The third gold of the day went to Antonella Bellutti of Italy in the women's point race.
Belgium and Italy took silver and bronze in the madision. Jens Fielder of Germany copped bronze in the kierin behind Rousseau and Niewand. In the points race, Leontien Ziljaard of the Netherlands raced to the silver and Olga Slioussareva of Russia earned the bronze.
Germany Claims Team Pursuit Gold
The German team of Guido Fulst, Robert Bartko, Daniel Becke and Jens Lehmann raced to gold Tuesday in the men's team pursuit race. Ukraine finished second and Britain took the bronze. It was the second gold medal of the Olympics for Bartko, who won the men's individual pursuit competition Sunday.
Nothstein Sprints to Gold
Marty Nothstein captured the first American cycling gold medal of the games Wednesday. He outpaced France's Florian Rousseau in the final at the Dunc Gray velodrome. Nothstein, who lost the 1996 Olympic final to Germany's Jens Fiedler, had to make a comeback from knee surgery to reach the Sydney games. He beat Fiedler, a two-time Olympic champion, in the semi-finals. The silver goes to Rousseau, and Fiedler settled for bronze.
Germany Claims Team Pursuit Gold
The German team of Guido Fulst, Robert Bartko, Daniel Becke and Jens Lehmann raced to gold Tuesday in the men's team pursuit race. Ukraine finished second and Britain took the bronze. It was the second gold medal of the Olympics for Bartko, who won the men's individual pursuit competition Sunday.
World Mark for Dutch Rider
The semifinals of the women's 3,000-meter individual pursuit competition produced a world record. Leontien Zijlaard of the Netherlands clocked 3:30.816 to trim the four-year-old mark of France's Marion Clignet by a fraction. That set up a showdown between Zijlaard and Clignet in Monday's gold medal final -- and Ziljaard won again. Britain's Yvonne McGregor wound up with the bronze.
Germans Stage 1-2 Finish; Gold for France
Sunday's men's individual pursuit competition produced gold and silver for Germany, with Robert Bartko the victor and Jens Lehmann close behind. Brad McGee of Australia nailed down bronze for the home crowd. In the Olympic sprint race, the French team of Laurent Gane, Florian Rousseau and Arnaud Tournant took the gold. Britain was second and Australia was third.
First Cycling Gold Goes to Britain, France
Britain's Jason Queally and France's Felicia Ballenger captured the first gold of the Olympic cycling competition. Queally topped Stefan Nimke of Germany to win Saturday's men's one-kilometer time trial on the banked track. Shane Kelly of Australia earned the bronze medal. Ballanger won the women's 500-meter time trial, trailed by Michelle Ferris of Australia and Cuihua Jiang of China.
Armstrong Wins Pre-Olympic Event
The biggest name in cycling says he will shoot for two gold medals in
Sydney, bringing one of the biggest hearts in sports along with him.
Lance Armstrong says he's recovered sufficiently from a fractured verterbra in his neck to ride at the Olympics -- and the two-time Tour de France champ demonstrated his readiness Saturday by winning the Grand Prix des Nations time trial in Yvetot, France. Armstrong said earlier he would use Saturday's race to test his health and make a final decision about competing in Sydney. If all goes well he'll enter the Olympic road race on September 27 and the September 30 time trial.
