Racing

Rio 2016 Olympic Games time trials: photo gallery

Veterans Kristin Armstrong and Fabian Cancellara wind back the clocks to claim gold medals

Eight years ago, both Kristin Armstrong and Fabian Cancellara celebrated gold medal success in the individual time trials at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Fast forward eight years, and the setting may have been different – this time Rio 2016 – but the two cycling legends were on the top steps of their respective podiums once again.

Fabian Cancellara reflects on his second Olympic gold medal (Pic: Sirotti)

Armstrong, one day short of her 43rd birthday, won her third consecutive time trial gold earlier in the day, while Cancellara paced his ride perfectly in the men’s race to storm to his second gold medal.

On a day when Chris Froome won Britain’s first cycling gold medal of Rio 2016, both the men’s and women’s time trial provided hugely popular winners.

Relive the action through the lens of photographer Stefano Sirotti in the full-screen gallery below.

The women's race started in high winds with lots of rain about. Tara Whitten of Canada set the early pace, passing her minute-marker Audrey Cordon (pic: Sirotti)

Emma Pooley's medal hopes were extinguished in the Rio rain. She was always off the pace but insists she has no regrets about coming out of cycling retirement for the race (pic: Sirotti)

Anna van der Breggen was targetting an historic road race-time trial double, and set a steady pace - ultimately finishing third (pic: Sirotti)

Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini was another of the road race medallists to go well on the Grumari circuit, but she narrowly missed out on a second medal (pic: Sirotti)

World champion Linda Villumsen finished sixth for New Zealand (pic: Sirotti)

Ellen van Dijk emerged as one of the favourites as the wind and rain took hold. The Dutchwoman rode an aggressive race but that proved to be her downfall - she misjudged a bend and ran out of road. Though she stayed upright, she lost momentum and finished 11 seconds off the podium, 22 seconds slower than gold medal winner Armstrong (pic: Sirotti)

Armstrong was the last woman on the course and overcame a nosebleed to win the gold medal in a time of 44.26.42 (pic: Sirotti)

Russia's Olga Zabelinskaya was initially banned from the Games as a result of a previous doping ban. That ban ended less than 12 months ago, but CAS cleared her to race and for a time it looked as though she would take gold. After prematurely celebrating, however, she was knocked into second by Armstrong - and looked as though she was still unhappy about it during the podium ceremonies (pic: Sirotti)

Kristin Armstrong won her third Olympic time trial gold medal, one day short of her 43rd birthday (pic: Sirotti)

Zabelinskaya, Armstrong and Van der Breggen show off their medals on the final podium (pic: Sirotti)

Dan Craven got the men's race underway. A late addition to the time trial startlist, Craven did not have any of his time trial kit and so rode the course on his road bike (pic: Sirotti)

Brent Bookwalter was another of the early starters and his effort started in the worst possible fashion - a crash on the first bend leaving with a torn skinsuit and busted zip (pic: Sirotti)

Geraint Thomas was another late addition to the startlist, and the Welshman earned himself a top-ten spot just days after crashing in the men's road race (pic: Sirotti)

Specialized ensured their athletes - including Julian Alaphilippe, pictured, Ellen van Dijk and Tony Martin were easy to spot on the course with their bright orange Specialized Shiv TT bikes and S-Works TT helmets (pic: Sirotti)

Martin was not expected to fare well on the course, particularly as he still bore the marks of his knee injury, and finished well down the pecking order (pic: Sirotti)

It had been suggested the hills might not be to Cancellara's liking either, but the Swiss rider paced his ride perfectly (Pic: Sirotti)

Jonathan Castroviejo held the clubhouse lead with only Cancellara, Dumoulin and Froome to finish but ultimately missed out on a medal by just four seconds (pic: Sirotti)

Tom Dumoulin defied the broken wrist he suffered at the Tour de France to put in a great ride to claim silver. The extent of the Dutchman's efforts were clear as he collapsed to the ground, head in hands, when his medal was confirmed (pic: Sirotti)

Froome came back strong from a slower start to claim bronze, capping a fine few weeks which has also included his third Tour de France win (pic: Sirotti)

Fabian Cancellara can not hide his delight after winning gold for the second time (pic: Sirotti)

Dumoulin, Cancellara and Froome pose with their medals (pic: Sirotti)

And Cancellara enjoys the spoils of victory as he looks forward to retiring (Pic: Sirotti)

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