Venue London and Surrey Competitors 37 from 31 nations | Date 1 August Winning time 50:39.54 | |
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The men's road time trial, one of the cycling events at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, took place on 1 August over a 44 km (27.3 mi) course in southwest London and Surrey.
Contents
Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain won the gold medal.
Qualification
Each nation in the top 15 of the 2011 UCI World Tour, top 7 of the UCI Europe Tour, top 4 of the UCI America Tour, top 2 of the UCI Asia Tour and leaders of the UCI Oceania and Africa Tours qualified to have one rider in the race. In addition, ten nations gained an extra rider through the performance of their riders in the 2011 UCI World Time Trial Championships; these were Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Australia, Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and Canada. The United States were given an extra rider at the expense of Luxembourg, who were not represented in the race.
Pre-race favourites
The defending champion in this discipline was Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. He was expected to mount a strong challenge, but crashed heavily in the closing stages of the Olympic road race, initially putting his participation in the time trial in doubt. Scans revealed that he had avoided breaking his collarbone for the second time in the season, though, and he started in the time trial.
The winner of the 2012 Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain was also considered a big favourite, having won seven previous time trials in the 2012 season, and was looking to add to the six Olympic medals he has won on the track. World Champion Tony Martin of Germany was tipped as an early favourite, but had suffered an injury-wrecked season, and pulled out of the Tour de France in an effort to be fit for the Olympic race.
Of the other contenders, Wiggins' British team mate Chris Froome showed strong form at the Tour de France, where he finished second overall and second to Wiggins in two time trials. Another of Wiggins' trade team mates, Michael Rogers, the 2003–2005 time trial world champion represented Australia, with 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans electing not to start due to fatigue. Young American Taylor Phinney, who won the opening time trial of the 2012 Giro D'Italia represented the United States. Sylvain Chavanel was the sole French rider, along with Luis León Sánchez of Spain and Marco Pinotti, winner of a time trial in the Giro, who represented Italy.
Course
The competition consisted of a time trial over one lap of a 44 km (27.3 mi) course, with staggered starts.
Results
The entry list was published on 1 August.