Wiggins Defends Cycling Gold; Phinney Is Seventh

Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins became the first cyclist to repeat as the Olympic men's individual pursuit gold medallist at Beijing's Laoshan Velodrome Saturday with a time of 4 minutes 16.77 seconds.

American cycling phenom Taylor Phinney failed to advance to the medal round, culled from the eight-man field of qualifiers by New Zealand's Hayden Roulston, 27, who went on to win silver (4:19 611).

Steven Burke added to Great Britain's medal tally by claiming bronze (4:20.947).

Phinney, 18, son of former Olympic medallists Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter-Phinney, vowed to return for the 2012 Games more fit and experienced. Saturday's race was only the 10th individual pursuit Phinney had competed in. He raced as a junior until this year and graduated from high school a few months ago.

Phinney was the youngest cyclist to advance to Saturday's first round, qualifying seventh among the eight riders who made the cut on Friday.
That alone was a huge achievement. He said afterward that Friday's qualifying had drained him more than he anticipated.

"I gave everything I had the first day," he said, smiling. "Today I was more tired."

His time was Saturday was eighth fastest, but he was credited with a seventh-place finish because another competitor was lapped during his two-man race, dropping him to last place.

In the men's points race, Joan Llaneras of Spain won gold, Germany's Roger Kluge took silver, and Chris Newton of Great Britain claimed bronze.

By Liz Clarke  |  August 16, 2008; 6:34 AM ET  | Category:  Cycling
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