Ashleigh skids out

11 August 2016 - 09:28 By DAVID ISAACSON

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio went to the Rio Olympics to try to win a medal, but left in tears yesterday after finishing 12th in the women's 29.7km individual time trial. "I can't help but feel a little bit emotional," said the rider, sporting grazes on her left arm and legs after sliding on oil about 10km in.At that stage she was third, but then she slipped down the field.She clocked 46min 29.11sec, more than two minutes slower than winner Kristin Armstrong of the US in 44:26.42.Russian Olga Zabelinskaya was second (44.31.97) and Anna van der Breggen of Holland, the road race champion, third (44:37.80)."Everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong at the Olympic Games," said Moolman-Pasio, who was 10th in the road race on Sunday. "We put so much into it and you really hope that everything comes together and, unfortunately, that's not been the case for me in the road race and the time trial."In the road race I had mechanical problems with my brakes, which I only realised after the race, and today I thought I was having a really good time trial and slid out on the first technical descent."I was doing my best to do a conservative but fast descent."It just didn't work out on the day. It just threw me off, the glutes really locked up after there and I did my best to put my head down and keep going."A strong wind and light rain hit Rio yesterday morning, forcing organisers to cancel the rowing programme, which included the semifinals for four SA crews.But Moolman-Pasio insisted conditions had not affected her."Usually I'm not too bothered by weather conditions. I am technically a good rider and usually you see the rain and think at least that counts out those that are scared."I'm not usually scared. I mean, usually I would make it through clear, I hit some oil in the road and went sliding along the tar."I knew we had to be a bit more careful. That descent was very technical . I knew that it wasn't where the time trial was going to be won, but it could be where it would be lost and, unfortunately, that's where I lost it."Moolman-Pasio had rated her chances on the course...

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