Spaniard Samuel Sanchez celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's road race of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 9, 2008.
Spain's Samuel Sanchez claimed the men's road race gold medal in six hours, 23 minutes and 49 seconds at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday.
Sanchez broke away from the leading pact with about 200 meters to go to seal the title.
"It's like a dream. I still could not believe I won the gold. I should thank my teammates, the gold not just belong to be, but to the whole team." Sanchez said.
Davide Rebellin of Italy took the silver while Fabian Cancellara from Switzerland had the bronze.
"This is my birthday, I got the best birthday gift for my life. It is great to be on the Olympic podium," Rebellin said. "I think the strongest today is among the Spanish team, they did a good team work today."
As the solo Swiss rider, Cancellara was satisfied with the bronze result, saying:"I did the right race, everything I did today was right. In the end, it was not the best course, I did my best to follow them."
Patricio Almonacid of Chile and Horacio Gallardo of Bolivia surprised all to take an early lead in first 40 kilometers, but they failed to hold on.
After riding for 70 kilometers, the Aussies took their chance to break away from the big group with Cadel Evans taking the lead, followed by teammate Michael Rogers.
However, it was Patricio Almonacid of Chile who became the first to reach the finish circuit besides the Great Wall.
Under the support of teammates Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde, Sanchez surged ahead of the six-man leading group to win Spain's first gold in Beijing.
The hot and humid weather proved to be a big challenge to all riders as Raivis Belohvosciks of Latvia and British Jonathan Bellis had to pulled out of the race only after two laps.
The mass start road cycling race started at Yongdingmen Gate, running through Tianqiao, Temple of Heaven, the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Changpu river park, Imperial Palace Wall Relics Park, Shatan, the Lama temple, Temple of Land, the Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Palace, Olympic Sports Center, the Bird's Nest stadium, and the Beijing Olympic Tower, Zhongguancun High-tech District, Peking university, the Yuanmingyuan Park, Juyongguan Great Wall, Badaling Great wall.
The delicate design of the route offered the world a comprehensive appreciation of Beijing's beautiful landscape.
The man's Olympic road race's route is 245.4 kilometers in length, and 143 cyclists from 55 countries and regions competed in the race.
(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)