Welcome to the second and final event of the 2016 Olympics! The Time Trial takes place over 54km. Two and a bit laps of part of the Grumari circuit used in the Road Race. Hilly route will favour the stage racers over the pure specialists.
The first rider on the course today is Cheung of Hong Kong. He'll take the early honors at all time checks as a result.
The first real benchmarks are laid down by Dillier (SWI). He copmletes the course in 1hr 34'44. How quick this is we'll have to wait a see.
Not great is the answer. Cattaneo (ITA) lights up the screens with a 1hr34'01. It's a good ride from the Italian. From this we reckon the winning time will be low 1hr32-ish, unless the weather changes.
Tanel Kangert (EST) goes under the radar, going slower than the Italian at the two checks, then pops up with a 1'33'50 on the line! He'll keep the hot-seat warm for now.
Martin Keizer (NED) came in as an outside bet. He lives up to the billing, going purple throughout. His final time is a 1hr33'26! Proof that a win will be in the 32's to our eyes.
Not too long before the Italians strike back! Vincenzo Nibali edges himself into contention with a 1hr33'11. Nibbles with a strong ride above what we expected of him.
Then eyes turn to our first major challenger. Pluchkin (MOL) rumbles over the line in 1hr32'02. Provisional Gold for the GT champion. This will put him right in Medal contention!
Road Race medalist Simon Spilak could be about to spoil the party. He storms the course like a tank on steroids. He smashes the '32 barrier, 1hr32'19! That was an incredible ride! Now that really could be a Gold Medal effort, astonashing!
Kritskiy (RUS) is trying hard to hold up the Russian attack. But he's been a ways off Spilak so far, and indeed will fall short at 1hr33'00. Still, that's 2nd at the moment, and ahead of Pluchkin. He should be happy with that ride.
Justo Tenorio, however, is closer. Only about 10" or so slower at the second time check he could challenge for Gold. 1hr32'45.... He won't oust Spilak, but he's given himsefl a real chance at a Medal.
Now here's a challenge forming. Taaramae (EST) following his compatriots footsteps and going very well indeed. In fact he whilst he was down by 8" at Check 1, coming through Check 2 Rein is ahead by 1"!
To the line the seconds slip by. It's going to be tight......
1hr32....13!
A New Best Time from Rein Taaramae
Shortlived joy though. Robert Gesink was 10" up himself at Check 2, and the Dutchman is going to storm the race.
He's so quick we might see a 31! That would be quite something...
1hr....
32...
03!!!
Gesink takes provisional Gold! What a time! It guarantees him a Medal and surely the only way he'll lose Gold is by a 31 now.
Jerome Coppel is penultimate rider on course. But he's not looking happy. Outside the Top20 at Check 1. Only 16th at Check 2. It's not going to be anything to note for him today. A real let down ride...
Which leaves us with one rider to go. Taylor Phinney. He was 2" behind Gesink at Check 1.
But Taylor is pacing himself, going 15" quicker through Check 2! Phinney is on course to smash the 31 barrier and claim Olympic Gold!
In sight of the line now, but time is going by and he labours. Has he gone too hard in the middle? The shoulders are rocking and rolling....
1hr 31'51
Taylor Phinney is your Olympic Time Trial Champion! By a mammoth 12" over Gesink in the end. That was a sensational ride from the American.
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