TOUR DE FRANCE champion Bradley Wiggins of Britain bagged the fourth Olympic gold medal of his career on Wednesday after blitzing his rivals to win the men’s road race time trial.
Germany’s reigning world champion Tony Martin finished second to take the silver with Britain’s Chris Froome in third taking the bronze.
Ireland’s only competitor David McCann finished down the field in 27th place, more than five minutes behind Wiggins’ winning time of 50:39.
Wiggins, crowned Britain’s first yellow jersey champion 10 days ago, hit an average speed of 52.11 km/h for the 44 km race against the clock which started and finished at the former residence of King Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace.
Reigning world champion Martin was racing under par after suffering a broken wrist on the Tour de France and he did well to clock 51:21.
Froome, who finished runner-up to Wiggins on the Tour de France, timed 51:47 to keep American Taylor Phinney off the bronze by just 11 seconds.
Defending Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara, who was also racing with injury after banging his shoulder Saturday in a crash during the men’s road race, finished well out of the medals in 52:53.
It is Wiggins’ first Olympic title on the road, having won his three previous gold in track cycling’s pursuit events.
(c) AFP, 2012
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