Cancellara and Armstrong fastest along Great Wall

Swiss Fabian Cancellara in the men's 47-kilometre race and Kristin Armstrong (USA) in the women's 23.5-kilometre equivalent have taken the gold medals in the time trial. Cancellara started out conservatively but eventually won by 33 seconds over Swedish rider and CSC team-mate Gustav Erik Larsson. Bronze went to Levi Leipheimer (USA) who held off Spain's Alberto Contador by eight seconds.

Armstrong took an equally convincing win ahead of Emma Pooley (Great Britain) in the women's race. The two were separated by 24 seconds. Karin Thürig of Switzerland finished third, making the nation in the heart of Europe one of the most successful so far in the cycling events. Two bronze and a gold medal speak for itself. Great Britain has won a gold and a silver (Cooke and Pooley) while the USA has a gold and a bronze so far.

In the men's race, Contador started out like a man possessed. After only 11 kilometres he was ahead by 18 seconds. It turned out the Spaniard started to fast and subsequently he dropped back to second at the second check, third at the third check and fourth at the finish. Leipheimer did it reversed, not reaching a medal place until it counted.

Read more on the men's and women's time trials in Beijing.