from VeloNews…
Britain’s Bradley Wiggins of Britain successfully defended his Olympic crown when he won the individual pursuit track cycling gold in Beijing on Saturday.
New Zealand’s Hayden Roulston took silver with Britain’s Steven Burke winning the bronze medal.
American Taylor Phinney missed a spot in the medal rounds, riding 4:26.6 in Round 1.
The 27-year-old Wiggins clocked a time of 4:16.5 in Round 1 to secure his place in the final against the New Zealander, who finished in 4:19.2.
Another Briton, Steven Burke, will race against Russia’s Alexander Markov for the bronze medal later Saturday.
Burke, competing in his first Olympics, qualified third fastest in his heat in a time of 4:21.5. Markov posted a time of 4:22.3.
American teenager Taylor Phinney, the US champion whose parents Connie Carpenter and Davis Phinney both have Olympic medals, put in a spirited performance but could only clock 4:26.6.
Roulston’s impressive ride gave him a silver medal following a dramatic return to cycling after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
Known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, it left him short of breath, pushed his heart rate to dangerous levels, and put him at risk of dying every time he got on his bike.
He returned to cycling after embracing a Japanese hands-on healing process known as “reiki.”
Wiggins, already Britain’s most decorated Olympic cyclist with four medals, is now assured of adding another to his collection.
Men
Individual Pursuit (4000 meters)
1st round
Steven Burke (GBR) 4 minutes 21.558 seconds defeats Volodymyr Dyudya (UKR)
Alexey Markov (RUS) 4:22.308 defeats Antonio Tauler (ESP)
Hayden Roulston (NZL) 4:19.232 defeats Taylor Phinney (USA)
Bradley Wiggins (GBR) 4:16.571 defeats Alexander Serov (RUS)
Bronze medal race
Steven Burke (GBR) defeats Alexey Markov (RUS)
Gold Medal Final
Bradley Wiggins (GBR) defeats Hayden Roulston (NZL)
