Cycling Road Afternoon Session Review: USA's afternoon at the Cycling Road circuit -- china.org.cn

With two golds, two silvers and a bronze, it was the USA's afternoon at the Cycling Road circuit, but the American team had to wait until late in the day for the medals to start piling up.

Germany was the first to strike gold in the afternoon session with Wolfgang Sacher turning the tables on old rival Wolfgang Eibeck of Austria in the Men's Individual Time Trial (LC1). Eibeck beat Sacher at the 2007 World Championships in Bordeaux, France. Sacher came home 10 seconds ahead of the Austrian Athens 2004 gold medalist and 42 seconds ahead of Athens silver medalist Fabio Triboli of Italy.

In the Men's Individual Time Trial (LC2) event, Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic became the second rider of the day to retain his Athens title, 42 seconds ahead of Athens silver medalist Roberto Alcaide of Spain who came in third behind surprise Silver medal winner on this occasion, Carol Edward Novak of Romania who placed only fifth at the 2007 World Championships.

The third rider to retain his title was Laurent Thirionet of France. Taking gold again in the Men's Individual Time Trial (LC3), Thirionet pushed Britain's Simon Richardson into the silver medal placing by 23 seconds and Fujita Masaki of Japan by 42 seconds. Neither was placed at either the World Championships or at Athens.

Anthony Zahn of the United States finally got the United States onto the afternoon medals board by adding a Men's Individual Time Trial (LC4) bronze to the US trophy cabinet. Michael Teuber of Germany retained his Athens title in the event by a full minute over second-placed Juan Jose Mendez of Spain. Surprisingly, 2007 World Championship gold medalist Paulo Vigano of Italy failed to finish.

Zahn's medal must have inspired his team mates who then began accumulating trophies by bringing home a silver in the very next race, the Women's Individual Time Trial (LC1/LC2/CP4) - a new class for the Paralympics. World Championship 2007 gold medalist Jennifer Schuble of the United States (CP4) who came home a full minute and a half behind the flying Sarah Storey of Great Britain (LC1) the former Paralympic swimmer whose only road cycling success until now was a silver at the 2006 World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland. China at last got on the medals board with a bronze from Zhou Jufang of China (LC1) in the event.

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