Cancellara seeking a second medal in time-trial

BEIJING (AP) Fabian Cancellara already has an Olympic medal to take home, but it's not the one he was banking on and it's not the color he wants.

The only Swiss rider in the men's road race on Saturday, Cancellara beat the odds to take the bronze medal. In Wednesday's time-trial, only gold will be good enough for the double world champion.

"Before the road race I was very relaxed. Now, slowly, the tension is building up," said Cancellara.

Cancellara had intended to go to the tennis venue to watch his compatriot Roger Federer compete on Monday, but chose instead to ride the time-trial course one more time. Federer won his match, so Cancellara should get another chance to see him - but not just yet.

Cancellara starts as favorite for the race, but he hasn't had things all his own way in recent months. In the two time-trials in last month's Tour de France, he came fifth and second respectively.

The man who won both those stages was the German Stefan Schumacher, a time-trial revelation in recent months. Like several of the time-trial specialists, Schumacher did not complete Saturday's hot and humid road race, and may be the fresher for that.

Australian Cadel Evans started the road race as one of the favorites but failed to show at the end and finished 15th. Still, he also beat Cancellara in a time-trial on his way to second place at the Tour, and he will be out for victory on Wednesday, as will his compatriot, three-time world time-trial champion Michael Rogers.

Giro champion Alberto Contador will be looking to make it a Spanish double after his teammate Samuel Sanchez's success in the road race. American David Zabriskie, who has recovered from a broken back, and Marzio Bruseghin of Italy also have a good chance on the difficult course.

Four years ago, it was Tyler Hamilton of the United States who took gold, a glorious victory that was soon overshadowed by doping allegations. He tested positive for blood doping at the Spanish Vuelta and was banned for two years. A test carried out at the Olympics was also positive, but he kept the gold medal because his backup sample could not be tested.

Cycling in Beijing has already been struck by doping in Beijing. Spanish rider Maria Isabel Moreno, who was due to compete in both road races, tested positive for EPO, it was announced Monday. Moreno had already left Beijing without competing, citing an anxiety attack.

The women's race will see a new Olympic champion following the retirement of Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, the gold medalist in Athens and Sydney.

World champion Hanka Kupfernagel of Germany, the silver medalist eight years ago, will be seeking the gold, but will face strong competition from former world champions Kristin Armstrong of the United States and Karin Thuerig of Switzerland, the Athens bronze medalist.

The new Dutch hope, Marianne Vos, came into the Olympics hoping for three golds, but could only manage sixth in the rain-soaked road race. She is now putting all hopes on the time-trial - for which the weather forecast is better - as well as the points race on the track on Monday.

Vos was not born when French legend Jeannie Longo first competed in the Olympics. The 1996 gold medalist, in her seventh Olympics at the age of 49, had a good showing in the road race and says she still believes she can take one more medal for her overflowing trophy cabinet.

Both time-trials take place on the same 23.8-kilometer (14.8-mile) course, in the shadow of the Great Wall of China, on Wednesday, with the women riding first.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.