Medal quest resumes for Hughes

Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012

LONDON -- After having to do without team support in the Olympic road race, Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal gets a more even playing field in today's individual time trial.

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LONDON -- After having to do without team support in the Olympic road race, Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal gets a more even playing field in today's individual time trial.

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LONDON — After having to do without team support in the Olympic road race, Canadian cyclist Ryder Hesjedal gets a more even playing field in today’s individual time trial.

Everyone is on their own.

Of course, the Giro d’Italia winner will be up against a who’s who of accomplished time trial riders including Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and British teammate Chris Froome and world champion Tony Martin of Germany. Defending Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara will have to overcome the aftermath of crashing in the road race.

Postmedia Ed Kaiser
Clara Hughes — Postmedia Ed Kaiser Clara Hughes

Clara Hughes, 39, resumes her quest for a seventh Olympic medal earlier in the day in the women’s time trial along with Denise Ramsden of Yellowknife.

Cyclists start at 90-second intervals, with the winner posting the fastest time.

The course — 44 kilometres for the men and 29 for the women — starts and finishes at Hampton Court Palace in southwest London, and incorporates sections of Richmond, Kingston-upon-Thames and Surrey.

Hesjedal is not a specialist in the time trial but that did not stop him from using the final time trial of the Giro to overcome Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez’s 31-second overall lead.

Hughes won two bronze medals in cycling (road race and individual time trial) from the 1996 Games in Atlanta and a gold, silver and two bronze in long-track speedskating from the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Games.

“She is incredible,” said Canadian cycling coach Denise Kelly. “For her to be able to keep her focus for this many years, at this level, I really don’t know what to compare it to. It is truly, truly phenomenal. She’s professional in every sense of the word when she approaches this sport.

“She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t think she had a chance.”

Hughes was 32nd in a rain-sodden road race, but said the performance has her looking forward to the time trial.

She led the peloton for stretches but was blocked by a rider who had a mechanical problem when the key break happened.

Canada also has a shot at a medal in the men’s eight today while Alexandre Despatie of Laval, Que., and Reuben Ross of Regina look to climb the podium in the men’s synchronized three-metre springboard.

— The Canadian Press