CHRIS FROOME and Geraint Thomas saw their Rio road race gold hopes go up in smoke.
Three-time Tour de France winner Froome failed to find enough in his legs for an attack near the end of the track at the Copacabana.
Froome will now channel his energies into Wednesday’s time-trial.
But, amazingly, it could have been worse for the Team GB star, who had to be reminded to sign in before the race began.
Thomas, who blew his chance to win last week’s Ride London, crashed out on the treacherous descent with about ten kilometres of the 237.5km race left to go.
The Welshman was seen in deep concrete drainage on the left side of the road.
Thomas recovered to finish the race but will undoubtedly rue what could have been, while Adam Yates also failed to mount a challenge.
Favourite Vincenzo Nibali looked in prime position to kick on before he also bailed while perched comfortably in the leading three, taking down Colombia’s Sergio Henao with him.
Aussie Richie Porte was another casualty of the dangerous descent, with reports suggesting he suffered a broken collarbone.
Belgium’s Greg van Avermaet took gold over Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang in the closing 100m while Poland’s Rafal Majka took bronze.
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