CYCLING: Australia’s Rohan Dennis has finished fifth in the individual road time trial, on a tricky course in Pontal on Wednesday.

The reigning national champion Dennis was the eighth last rider from a field of 37 riders to roll from the start ramp to begin the first of two laps of the 29.86km course.

At the first time check after 10 kilometres, Dennis trailed Fabian Cancellara by less than one second, before powering to post the fastest at the halfway mark by 15 seconds over Tom Dumoulin (NED).

At check point three at 34km, Dennis trailed Cancellera by 18 seconds which extended to 52 seconds at the 44km mark

Dennis stopped the clock in 1:10.24, but it wasn't enough to hold out Swiss rider Cancellara (gold), Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin (silver) and British rider Chris Froome (silver). 

Amy McCann
olympics.com.au