Day 2 BBC One: 19.30-22.00 Olympics

Hello, and welcome back today to the Olympics here in Rio, for the

viewers who have joined the coverage on BBC One, we are in the closing

stages of the women's road race, it started over three hours ago, Lizzie

Armitstead, with a horrible build-up to the race, having had to appeal to

the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after her missed drugs test, she's

been allowed to compete. She won a medal in the games in London, taking

a silver. She had a puncture here earlier on,

it's a very hilly course, conditions cooler than yesterday, now it is

overcast. Very windy, the rowing was cancelled

earlier. Known as join other commentators,

who can update us as the race enters the closing stages.

-- join the commentators. COMMENTATOR: They are on their final

climb, Mara Abbott from the United States, Evelyn Stevens, and Longo

Borghini from Italy. The South African Ashley Maughan and Emma

Johansson from Sweden is hanging onto her coat-tails. Lizzie

Armitstead, they are the leaders. Just going over the top of the road

in front. Lizzie Armitstead is just losing contact with the leading

group of this deep ramp of a climb, no surprise in a way -- steep ramp.

There are better climbers than her in the peloton but she needs to

limit the damage and claw-back if possible.

About 20 seconds is the gap now, it does not look like much but they are

doing less than 20 kilometres per hour, there is a lot of distance.

They could use that one minute of descending to go back on, but it is

dangerous, there are gutters at the side of the roads, she must use

every bit to get back. Marianne Vos is not giving up the ghost either,

and Olympic champion. What a race, the Polish rider is just in front of

Lizzie Armitstead at the moment, Katarzyna Niewiadoma. This is the

leading group, we knew that it was a key moment in the race. This climb

and the situation in the race has changed rapidly. Back with the world

champion, Lizzie Armitstead. That is Katarzyna Niewiadoma, now they are

losing ground with every revolution of the pedals. This is not the front

of the race, in front of Lizzie Armitstead, we have to go further

ahead. We are currently riding with... Two others who have just

been dropped. Now we are back at the front of the race. Seven riders left

in contention, Lizzie Armitstead is really losing some time now. It will

be very difficult for her to get back on terms but she will fight all

the way. She's been thinking about this Olympic championship since she

took the world title but she still almost in contact, about 15 seconds

is the gap between them. The second half is not as steep if she can get

back. Armitstead needs to keep fighting, there is a descent halfway

up the climb, just under one kilometre long. A sharp and steep

descent, then the second half of the climb is not as big in terms of, or

not as difficult, in terms of the gradient.

At the front of the race, Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands.

Annemiek van Vleuten is there as well, Mara Abbott of the USA, Evelyn

Stevens of the USA, Elisa Longo Borghini of Italy, MA Johansson of

the silver medallist in Beijing, beaten to the line in the sprint by

Nicole Cooke of Britain. -- Emma Johansson. Adams Ashleigh Moolman

literally at the back of the group now -- and Ashleigh Moolman.

Ashleigh Moolman and Stevens are struggling and beginning to be

distanced here. Fantastic work is being done here. But Mara Abbott is

the pure climber, no surprise seeing her at the front at this moment in

time, twice the winner of the women's Giroud Italia. Dropping her

countrywoman may not have been the best idea, she may be working

inadvertently for the other teams. She is unlikely to be able to

descend. It is possible but she is not known for her descending skills,

this is as technical a descent as it gets. Emma Johansson struggling to

stay with the group, it is whittling down, the thinning out process

continues, Mara Abbott is doing all of the damage here. It does not look

like much, but 6-7 seconds to Johansson, Lizzie Armitstead is

further down the road. I do not think the world champion is looking

like it at the moment, it looks like she will get back on terms... She

has a descent in the middle, then less in the second half to this

climb, they are not letting up at the front at all. They know that

letting Armitstead getting back on terms would be a bad move for the

sprint, for sure. She is not giving up. Lizzie Armitstead breading at

the best pace she can muster to get over the top of the climb but the

gap at the top is key. There is time to aim some ground -- going at the

best pace. There is not much room for error,

you make a mistake on the descent, and you are in trouble. They will

start to finesse when they get down the descent and onto the flat roads,

and they will think, I don't want to save myself for the sprint, that

easing could allow others to get back into contention. It is all

going to happen in the last few calamities of the race.

Just 20 remaining now. -- few kilometres of the race. A big chunk

is downhill and flat. It's a very select group year indeed, the Dutch

are remarkably well represented, Anna van der Breggen was a

favourite, and Annemiek van Vleuten is doing a superb right to be up

there as well. Van der Breggen was who everyone thought could win.

Megan Guarnier from the USA, many were talking about her. She has not

managed to get herself to the frontier. -- frontier. Longo

Borghini is potentially the most dangerous here. Found a broken is

the favourite, I would say. A great descend as well. But Longo Borghini

can sprint and descend, it will all be decided on the second half of the

climb. This is their respite, Short as it is, this small descent, they

are not taking it too hard. You can see how they dive into these narrow

roads, almost dark and some of these trees. -- beneath some of these

trees. 48 seconds we are hearing is the gap, that Lizzie Armitstead is

behind. Not sure we have full confidence in these checks after

what we saw before, but it reflect what we saw on the ascent. We still

have the second half of the climb to come, although overall it is more

gradual a climb down the first. It is not as severe, but there is some

considerable ground for Armitstead to make up to get into medal

contention. Here is the leading group, with Longo Borghini of Italy

very much a part of it. They have started to look around, that is

quite interesting. You do not have... They do not have the luxury.

They have built the lead, it is not unassailable. They are beginning to

look around. Mara Abbott is looking around, and so she should be. She is

the best climber. Forcing this move. Lizzie Armitstead going through...

On the downhill she is likely to be the least skilled of the group. If

Lizzie Armitstead keeps going like that, she is not far behind Ashleigh

Moolman or Evelyn Stevens. If those three get moving, they could manage

to gain some ground although Ashleigh Moolman would be the one of

the two who is prepared to do that. Emma Johansson of Sweden... They all

fighting on, it is an individual race in every sense now. It might be

a mass start but they are all going to their personal limits on this

climb, she is getting back on terms. We said this second part was not

quite as steep, she might be able to live with them in that section.

Found a broken nose that she does not want anyone with her if she can

help it. -- Anna van der Breggen. This is the

steepest bit of the second section, and she is making every bit of it

count. This is Annemiek van Vleuten making the attack at the moment. The

Dutch woman. Mara Abbott cannot go at this pace at the moment. They are

causing all sorts of difficulty for many of the riders behind. You are

right, it is Annemiek van Vleuten who has made this bid to try and

draw the sting from the others. Anna van der Breggen on the wheel of

Longo Borghini, it does not look like the Italian has much more to

give here. Mara Abbott tries to claw her way

back to Annemiek van Vleuten. It is fascinating that van der Breggen was

the prerace favourite, but when it comes down to it, she does not quite

have it to give. Anna has given responsibility to her team-mate

here. What a job she is doing with it. She rides for the Australia

recover squad. 33 years old. Good form, fourth in a big race in

Germany in a big race ahead of the Olympic Games, the tort of flounders

as well. The ride of her life. This is the

biggest win of the lot for her. -- Tour of Flanders. This is a great

ride from Emma Johansson, in contention here. She could afford to

take Mara Abbott here. I would probably say that Annemiek van

Vleuten is the better sprinter and more likely to be the better

descender of the two as well. We are seeing Anna's quality as a climber

rather than her other abilities as a cyclist. She is not giving in, just

two seconds between them. Fighting their way to the summit. Not far to

go. Then, it is that highly technical descent that caused so

much mayhem in the men's race. I hope that the television pictures

give an indication as to how difficult this is. We walked this

bit of because days ago, and goodness, it is steep. We are

getting reports that Lizzie Armitstead is in a small group now,

50 seconds, I think that her day is done, highly unlikely to get back on

terms. This is what Emma Johansson has done with this group of three.

Back into a medal with -- winning position here. She could

get back in contact with these two. We saw yesterday that getting over

the top of the climb up near the front did not really mean anything

at all. Actually a lot of the real drama happened on the descent. More

women have watched that, and learned lessons. Sometimes it takes more

courage to back off rather than keep pushing because it is an unforgiving

descent off the back of this climb. It might be the most important prize

at all but it is only yours, as Nibali found out, if you manage to

get to the line intact. He ended up in the middle-of-the-road with two

broken collarbones, having crashed. Suddenly, the prospect of being an

Olympic champions slipped from their grasp.

At the front of the women's race, van Vleuten has company, Mara Abbott

joins her at the runt of the race. Mara Abbott has done well to fight

back. -- at the front of the race. Who would have thought that she was

setting the pace? Lizzie Armitstead, number 27, still fighting away. She

has ground to make up, she is about to join Evelyn Stevens and a couple

of others. She has Ashleigh Moolman with her. And Katarzyna Niewiadoma

of Poland. An impressive group of riders in terms of ability. I would

not say that it is 50 seconds, I do not think she is yet out of the

race. The descent is very technical. And there is the run to the finish.

If they commit themselves and they look at each other, it is all to

play for. This race is not done and dusted, it is far from a foregone

conclusion that one of these two will win. As I said earlier, we need

to take these graphics with a pinch of salt. We are on the technical

limit, what you cannot see if they have a thick tree canopy all around.

Not managing to get TV pictures through them... The GPS is slightly

sketchy. I think that this race, you know, is still possible for about

ten riders to take the prize. But these two are in pole position at

the moment. Mara Abbott leads the way for the United States, the

wiggle high-5 rider. Fifth in the women's Giro this year, she has won

twice before. The winner of the Tour of Salvador as well.

Hilly Touraine there. Mara Abbott going for gold in the Olympic Games.

The time check is delayed, the race radio written on the board, then

given to the riders, it is such a dynamic environment at the moment,

we must accept that there are big gaps and see what we see in the

distance. The gaps are sizeable, we have motorbikes between the riders.

And these two are just driving away, trying to get themselves over the

summit, they have just a couple of moments before it happens. They are

so near to the top now. Then it will be Mara Abbott who has

to struggle to stay in contact with Annemiek van Vleuten on the descent.

The climb, whilst still far from straightforward, is more gentle, on

the whole and it was before. The South African is being dropped from

the Lizzie Armistead group. Katarzyna Niewiadoma is sitting on

her wheel. She has got to, she is not going to get any assistance

either through an capability or a team-mate up the road. Annemiek van

Vleuten will be glad she is not having to press on and do it all on

her own at the moment now that she has some company with Mara Abbott.

Now it starts to ease off a little bit for the riders. But their

concentration levels will have to stay at exactly 100% as they go over

the top of the climb. They will have no time to enjoy one of the most

spectacular views you could ever wish to see right across Rio. But

the descent is tricky, twisty, tight, narrow, unforgiving. There

are a few catch fences required, otherwise you would disappear off

the side. And no Annemiek van Vleuten goes for it once again. She

is trying to get rid of Abbott. It is too late in the day. She needs to

try and maybe on hit her on the descent. She has lost the

opportunity to break her on the climb. Abbott has had a chance to

take a breather. This is the top of the climb. After they have descended

a short wait, they will come to the Vista Chinesa. That is when it gets

really technical, of course. The race is really on for the gold medal

in the women's road race, less than 15 kilometres to go as they race

back down from the mountain top, through the jungle, and into Rio

itself and the finish at Copacabana. Abbott has got to produce the

descent of her life. She cannot afford to let the Dutch man gets any

lead here. It is such a balance because you want to push it as much

as you can to maximise your chance of Olympic glory. But if you push it

too far... It is going now. As we saw yesterday it is all about

judgment now and that is a big part of taking this Olympic title. That

is the Vista Chinesa from the pagoda, one of the great views of

Rio. This signifies the start of the really technical part of this race.

It is a treacherous descent. There is daylight between them. We knew

this was going to happen. Abbott is not a great descender. Is that rain

on the lens of the camera? That will make this descent treacherous.

Hopefully they will be protected from light showers by the jungle

canopy, but it certainly adds another element. Let's hope it has

not started raining to any great degree because that would make it

extremely treacherous for the cyclists. The gap is really opening

and it is another game of brinkmanship on this descent. Who

wants it the most? Shall I take a risk? Shall I hold back? We said it

yesterday with Vincenzo Nibali. Judgment is a key part of it. Abbott

has definitely backed off and I do not think she has the time trial

ability to bring Annemiek van Vleuten back on the flat. I do not

think this group is close enough to close up. Presumably everybody gets

down safely, they could be sprinting it down for the bronze medal. There

is Lizzie Armistead going around the hairpin now. If she can get down

safely, she could still be a factor in this race. She could still be in

the hunt for a medal. It is not over. The odds are in favour of

these two taking the first two medals, but we have seen that before

in these championships. It is not over and this descent could play a

big part in making that decision. Abbott is wisely making sure she

gets down safely. But Annemiek van Vleuten is no longer in sight at

all. She has left the motorbike behind as well and we have no idea

how far down the mountain she is at the moment because we are stuck

behind the second rider. The spots of rain have stopped falling on the

camera. That is where Richie Porte crashed into the fencing. It has not

been repaired since yesterday. Here she is trying her best to get down

as fast as possible. Can she hold onto a silver medal? This descent is

unrelenting. As soon as you get around one corner there is another

one. So many decisions to be made. You need a great deal of skill. It

is not only that treacherous wheel track either side. The tarmac just

drops right down at the side of the road. The camber is falling away

beside it, pushing you towards that we'll trap. Emily Hansen is just

behind Anna van der Breggen. And the rider in white in the front is Elisa

Longo Borghini from Italy. She was so close there. Better to go into

the bend too slow and exit fast rather than the opposite, certainly

on a descent like this. Lizzie Armistead needs to take a chance.

Anna van der Breggen looks like a better descender in this group.

Longo Borghini is no mean descender herself. This is the leader. There

is enough of a gap to put a motorbike in. Oh and she is down. It

is an nasty crash. Anna van der Breggen, the leader in the women's

road race. It is a horrible moment as she crashes on this descent. Mara

Abbott, who has been far more cautious coming down off the

mountain, rides past and is in the gold medal position. We have

everything crossed that Annemiek van Vleuten is OK. That looked

absolutely awful. She was not moving, that was a terrible crash.

This descent is passed technical, it is dangerous. You flagged this up

straightaway going into the weekend that you were greatly concerned

about this descent and so it was proven in the men's race and now in

the women's race as well. Now Mara Abbott by default finds herself at

the front of the race, but it is of great concern the condition of the

Dutch rider, Annemiek van Vleuten, who was riding for gold a few

moments ago. Hopefully she will get swift medical attention at the

roadside. We will stick with racing for the moment as Mara Abbott makes

her way down into Rio. It is wider and safer here now as she heads down

into the wider slopes of the mountain descent. It will be

interesting to see how much of an advantage she has and how close the

others are behind her. It is Anna van der Breggen and Elisa Longo

Borghini who are the next riders on the road. And no surprise given the

difficulty of the descent that we are unable to get any information of

the gap. 9.1 kilometres to go. We are being told the gap is 38

seconds. Johansson is with Anna van der Breggen and Longo Borghini. The

distance is far enough on the flat when you get to the bottom that the

leader could be chased down. I am finding it difficult to get back

into the race after seeing that crash. She has to ride the time

trial of her life with just eight kilometres to go. She must have a

problem with energy if she is eating something now with just eight

kilometres to go. Maybe she is running out of steam. 40 seconds

sounds like a lot, but she has got a solid working group behind who want

to take Olympic title. If they get word they are making inroads, it may

motivate them to work together, rather than trying to pin their

hopes on getting a silver medal. I'd say it is significantly less than

that now. Are they working well together? Eight kilometres

remaining, it is an awful long way on your own. They head towards the

finish and Mara Abbott is at the front of the race. We are being told

it is a 38 second gap to the chasing riders. Anna van der Breggen, Elisa

Longo Borghini and Emma Johansson, all of them top riders. Johansson

has done extremely well to hang in on their in decline. You can see the

degree of effort it is taking for Mara Abbott. She is holding her own.

I wonder if Lizzie Armistead is in with a chance of catching this group

and potentially being in with a chance of a medal. There was not

much of an advantage to those sitting behind. There is Lizzie

Armistead! She has got some help and she is getting herself back into a

medal winning position at the very least. A fantastic ride by her. A

gutsy ride by Lizzie Armistead and Katarzyna Niewiadoma from Poland. I

will look for confirmation as to who the other rider is. None of those

riders are in a medal position. They can see in front of them the

possibility of taking at least a silver medal. That is the difference

between those two groups. Seven kilometres is a long way to go for

her to hang on for the gold medal. Yes, it is. While they are fighting

it out, she is edging closer and closer to it. They have got to

commit, there is no time to mess about. That is Johansson and Longo

Borghini. They are getting tantalisingly close. They have not

closed the gap yet and the kilometres are ticking down. Six and

a half remaining before they see the finish line in front of them and the

possibility for Lizzie Armistead of taking at least a silver medal. Mara

Abbott is doing an incredible ride to hold her own. I did not think she

would be able to do this. She is a very slight figure and used to being

the best in the mountains. This is not her territory, a powerful time

trial along a straight stretch of road, but at the moment she is

keeping them at bay. I do not think it is 36 seconds. I think they have

come round a corner closer than that. Let's keep an eye on the

cameras. If she wants to get a medal, it will need to be from the

situation she is in now. There is no other choice. She is very unlikely

to win a sprint in that group. This is how one shot. She did the

pacemaking on the climbs and now she is in sight of getting an Olympic

medal. This is Longo Borghini and Anna van der Breggen, who was highly

fancied as a potential race winner, the Dutch woman. Emma Johansson from

Sweden is up there as well. There is Lizzie Armistead, number 27. She

hung in there, she did not panic under severe pressure on that Klein.

The gap is coming down. We are hearing may the gap from the chasing

group to Mara Abbott is 20 seconds and not 34. Chris, your intuition on

that might be right. We have to watch the bends and how fast it is.

Behind Lizzie Armistead's group, they are not making any inroads,

they are holding at the same distance. These three will be

starting to think about fighting for a silver medal. They do not want

company. They have reignited the partnership and are working together

now. Mara Abbott at the front of the race. She just needs to keep going,

which is easily said and not so easily done.

This would be the ride of her life, she has lost a little bit of time,

but not much at all. It will be hurting now. Her legs will be

screaming. 4.5 kilometres remaining, it is flat now, pretty much. The

beach on her side, she would be taking in the view, that is for

sure! This is the first chance we get to pan back and see the

distance, it is significant, they are coming into view. I don't think

they will close the gap... If they are still committed, there's the

chance that they might. 28 seconds, ticking down, 27... I'm

just not sure if they can do it. If they get within ten seconds it is

closable in a sprint. Armitstead's group, with Jolanda Neff in there as

well. Armitstead is out of the saddle. A bit of rain is beginning

to fall, not quite reaching us here at the finish line yet. Here is the

leader, Mara Abbott, I wonder what is going through her mind at the

moment? The prize is so great and tantalisingly close, will it remain

within her grasp? The longest for climate as she will ride in her

life, every hundred meters must be ticking away, she has a computer in

front of her, she can see it is getting closer. She knows these

roads and how far it is to go. Still totally committed with the chase,

Van Der Breggen, Johansson and Longo Borghini. These are long and

straight roads, they have their prey in front of them, they can work

through carefully. There is not much in this, they can fancy their

chances of reeling her in. The clock is gone but we can see the cars in

front. Showing 28 seconds still. She is still battling away and hanging

on... What an unbelievable finish this will be to the women's road

race. Armitstead's group has stalled at 12 seconds further back, they

cannot quite get on terms, maybe they will have the chance to close

up when the three think about medal sprints? The time is going so

slowly, still three, to is to go for Mara Abbott. She is rolling across

the road, doing everything she possibly can. Making inroads, but

very slowly. Emily Anderson of Sweden, finishing second in the

Olympic Games road race before, beaten by Nicole Cooke in Beijing...

-- Emily Johansson. It is going to come down to the wire when the

sprint starts, it could be enough to close the distance at this rate. It

is going to be so close. It does not seem far to go for Mara Abbott but I

still think it is a long way for her. They should clear some traffic

out now... They are closing down and it would be terrible if the race

traffic interfered in the result. 20 seconds now, here she is in front.

Only 2.5 kilometres to do it in... What a chase this will be along the

seafront. Then, around into Copacabana. As Mara Abbott tries to

squeeze every last ounce of energy out of her body. She is digging

deeper than she ever has before in her life, her legs will be

absolutely screaming at her now. But the Olympic Games gold medal is the

prize on offer. It is so close, just to climate is to go and she is still

leading, still holding of the chasing group -- two kilometres.

Lizzie Armitstead is in her little group and they cannot quite get

across at the moment to contest the medals.

At the current rate of attrition, 17 seconds, 1.9 kilometres to go, she

will be caught on the line, it will come down to guts and heart, how

much she wants it. If the sprint starts now, they will

have the gap. When it gets to ten seconds, it will

be hard for her to hold. Not far now, 1.7 kilometres to go, 15

seconds is the lead. They had to make sure they are all doing the

work, if it just is one of them, they blow their chances of winning

the gold anyway. They need to make sure calculations are right and that

they are all committed. It is tantalisingly close here, what a

dramatic finish to the women's road race... The only chances are if

these three think about the medal, one begins to soft-pedal and there

is a momentary pause. That is all she needs, another two seconds

advantage, ten seconds now. It will be so close, it will be down to

these three, if they stay committed to the chase or begin to think about

the sprint... If they stay committed to the chase it will be hard for

Mara Abbott to stay away at this stage, can she do it? What a chase

towards the line here. One, to go -- one climate at ago. She is right in

front of them, I don't think she will do it unless these three begin

to think about the sprint. It is possible, I think that they are

close enough that she will be passed in the sprint. These are big level

riders. The big prize is close enough, they must commit to putting

themselves in with a chance in the shake-up at the end, no point in

doing all of this work if you won't make the junction and catch the

rider in front. It is so close but Mara Abbott will

have the gold medal swiped away right at the very last moment.

Despite using every ounce of energy that she can muster.

500 metres to go, the chase is on behind her, Longo Borghini leads the

way. They are drawing in, Mara Abbott now, looking behind.

Abbott has two draw on reserves she did not know she had, she is not

going to win the gold medal for my money, because Longo Borghini leads

the other two alongside her now... And Anna van der Breggen makes the

bid for glory, as Johansson tries to chase her down, Johansson does not

yet have the strength to come past Van Der Breggen, and Anna van der

Breggen takes the gold medal! For the second time in her career,

Emma Johansson in Sweden is beaten in a sprint for the line in the

Olympic Games road race and has to finish with a silver.

She lost out to Nicole Cooke and has lost out to Anna van der Breggen

from the Netherlands there. A beautiful sprint. Lizzie

Armitstead just crosses the line... Longo Borghini lost it, I'm afraid.

She sat on the front, Van De Burgh and was allowed to sit behind and

wait and wait, and hopefully we will have some news of her team-mate, van

Vleuten, and hear what kind of condition she is in -- Anna van der

Breggen. What a brilliant ride from her team-mate, Anna van der Breggen

timed it perfectly. Longo Borghini takes bronze for Italy. A silver for

Sweden, and Emma Johansson. I don't have confirmation yet, but I think

that Lizzie Armitstead may have come in fifth over the line. Armitstead

chasing so hard off the top of the climb, down the descent on the other

side and into Copacabana in itself. She could not quite bridge the gap.

Here comes Marianne Vos. Of the Netherlands, leading the chase over

the line, and she that her team-mate has one. Like Chris, I'm very

concerned about van Vleuten. We will bring any news on the condition of

van Vleuten, who was leading the Olympic road race when she crashed

heavily on the descent, as soon as. Here is the photo finish, how close

it was. The best part of a bike length in the end. Second again.

Aamer Yamin son of Sweden. I think that given the nature of the cause,

that is a superb ride from Emma Johansson. -- Emma Johansson of

Sweden. What a talent, Longo Borghini, the Italian rider. She did

a lot of work to finish the chase on Mara Abbott, spare her a thought.

Mara Abbott was so close to becoming an Olympic champion but what a ride

from Anna van der Breggen, many people thought she was the favourite

for the race, and she showed her face at the front for the very first

time. With the finishing line in sight. Megan Guarnier, such a good

season for her, in 11th place. A good ride from Lizzie Armitstead

as well. In contention, but her little group could not quite put

themselves in a position to contest the medals at the end. This is the

sprint for the gold medal once again, Anna van der Breggen

committee would put money on her in that situation and Emma Johansson

did everything she could. But, she was unable to claw back the gap

before the line arrived. Longo Borghini takes the medal, and Paul

rolled more Mara Abbott, -- poor old Mara Abbott, she led coming in, on

the left of your picture, agonisingly out of the medal.

Such is the nature of sport and bike racing. But she rode the race the

way that she had to to try and win it. There was no other way for Mara

Abbott, she would never win from a sprint but only through climbing

against the others. A moment which Anna van der Breggen

would, I'm sure, enjoy so many times in future. The moment she became the

Olympic Games road race champion. The Dutch won it four years ago with

Marianne Vos and they have won it again with Anna van der Breggen.

CHEERING Fourth time a Dutch rider has won

this race, only held since 1984, and for the fourth time in the nine

editions of the Olympic road race, the gold medal goes to a rider from

the Netherlands. Chris Boardman has hotfooted it down

from the commentary here, as the riders come through the zone, a

dramatic finish to a dramatic race, just as we saw yesterday? It was,

I'm waiting for news personally, it is hard to concentrate on a bike

race when you see a crash like that and we knew that descent was so...

I'm quite angry because I looked at the road and thought, nobody can

crush here and just get up, it's really bad.

That is what we saw today. I'm worried about her but her team-mate

did a phenomenal job, Anna van der Breggen lived up to her reputation,

timing it beautifully and getting herself to the back with one

plummeted to go. Longo Borghini with so much experience made a huge

tactical error. Let me talk to Lizzie Armitstead, coming through 20

seconds behind the Olympic champion. It was the chase of your life? Yes.

I did exactly what I wanted to do in the race, I did not panic on the

climb, I limited my losses and knew I could never follow the best

climbers in the world. I never gave up. You certainly did, you worked

hard on the climb. You always knew it would be a decisive feature in

the race and we saw it happen yesterday too? Yes, I've been

working on it for months, my climbing. I knew what I was capable

of and what I had in my legs. I did the best I could. I am just

knackered! I must ask what emotions I like having had the build-up to

the race, where you write for it mentally? How do you feel that it is

over now? I'm exhausted but looking forward to spending time with my

family and getting back to the people who love me and care about me

but to be honest I can't feel sorry for myself, this is sport and what

it is about. You open yourself up to judgment and I never gave up, and

for that, I can be proud. It is a deserving Olympic champion, for

sure. Chris, as she said, she never gave up. She gave it her all.

Incredible considering her small group is 12 seconds off the back

that she managed to close it and win the sprint. I watched her on the

climb and how brilliant she rode, and paced herself, you could see the

calculations. She effectively time trial it and wrote the descent as

best as she could, she got some allies on the bottom commission used

it as best as she could, she did beautifully. Anna van der Breggen

was the favourite going in. Everybody was watching her, she had

the legs for the climb? Van Vleuten was a surprise attack, we thought

that Anna van der Breggen would try to get away, and that van Vleuten

would work for her, it went the other way and I think it was Abbott

who was the surprise of the race for me, not with how she climbed, but

she rode a solid descent, took her own judgment and with this rain,

that made it a treacherous. The ride on the flat was incredible to keep

in contention. Heartbreaking that she got so close and came away with

fourth position. I cannot imagine how the Olympic champion would feel

knowing that her team-mate had such an awful crash. We spoke before and

saw ourselves in that race, should there be more barriers? Should there

be more cushioning on the descent? I mentioned that I am past commenting,

I'm actually quite angry about it. I went down there with you and we

looked at the course, we saw the edge. We knew that it was way past

being technical, this was dangerous. The designers of the course, they

saw it and left it. So yes, it was a pretty... Devastating. Hopefully we

will have a quick word with the Olympic champion, she is coming

towards us so we will hopefully get a word on her team-mate who we saw

having that horrendous crash and we will get the medal ceremony

underway. I will be interested to see if she saw that? When you are

raising your focus is the tarmac and making sure you keep as much

traction as you can, she may not yet know. Here she is now, thank you.

Many congratulations. Thank you. What a chase! Yes, what a chase. I

was pretty shocked about it, I think that she crashed hard, we did not

see, of course, but... I realised I'm the first in the team so I have

to chase, and I did it for van Vleuten. It was really good, with a

story, we knew that we had to do it. You had to be extremely careful on

the descent, it must have given you all a shock and a sobering moment

when you come pastoral team-mate like that? Of course, you think it

is good because she is in front, and you are in third place at the

moment, but suddenly, I saw her. It changes everything. But also, if you

see her like that, it's... A big shock.

I will let you go, you are being taken away for your medal.

Congratulations. As she goes to celebrate she will be

looking for information about her team-mate. Not many people know what

the situation is and we will keep you updated as soon as we get any

news. The riders are just coming in. We will bring you more from

Copacabana when we get it. Holland having taken gold with Anna

van der Breggen, clearly everyone is concerned as to the condition about

Annemiek van Vleuten. As soon as we get word on that, we will let you

know. We have got a very busy programme ahead, a variety of

sports. Here is what is coming up. Richard Kruse has his eyes set on a

Rio fencing medal. It would be Britain's first since 1964. He is

going in the men's foil semifinals. The diving gets under way today with

the women's three metres springboard. Rebecca Gallantree and

Alicia Blagg are going in that for Great Britain. Britain's women beat

Canada earlier today in the rugby sevens to make sure of their place

in the quarterfinals. We will see their match against Fiji and

hopefully we will be joining it live.

And it is the turn of the British women in the gymnastics

qualification, including cloudier frangipani who won four gold medals

at the Commonwealth Games two years ago.

Richard Kruse is fighting against the world number one. If he wins, he

will be guaranteed a medal. If you would rather watch table tennis,

that is on BBC Four. They will have the hockey action.

In the Olympic Park we have a range of sports around us. It is overcast

with a few spots of rain. Strong winds meant the rowing had to be

cancelled. The wind has dropped and we are set fair for an evening of

sporting action. But the International Paralympic Committee

has taken the decision to ban rush out right for the Paralympics which

starts on September the 7th in Rio. Sir Philip Craven, the president,

was very strong saying it was not about individual athletes or

individual federations making a decision like the IOC. He said it is

not about individuals or individual sports, it is about a

state-sponsored doping system. A state run system that is cheating

athletes. I believe the Russian government has catastrophically

failed its athletes. The medals over morals mentality disgusts me. Russia

were top of the table at the Sochi Winter Paralympics with more than

three times as many medals than any other nation. They will not be here

competing at the Paralympics in Rio. The British team includes Ellie

Simmonds, David Weir and Hannah Cockroft and Johnny Peacock and

others. We are now focusing on the Olympics and diving, sport in which

Great Britain have got strength and depth mainly thanks to the examples

set by Tom Daley who won the bronze medal at London 2012. Now that team

includes synchronised pair who we are going to see in the metres

springboard. Rebecca Gallantree is 31 and considered retiring after

London 2012. She has built on her partnership with 19-year-old Alicia

Blagg and won a silver medal at the European Championships in London and

they were seventh at the Olympics four years ago. The diving venue has

no roof and is open to the elements and we will see if that effect how

the divers react. It is straight into the finals with five dives and

we are joining Leon Taylor and Bob Ballard.

The first died for the Brits. They have opted to go for an inward dive

with pike. That will not be far away from the

magic 50. They normally go one, two, three, go. They just went go. No

hanging around. Maybe Becky with just a little bit more height. There

are the coaches. Will they get the magic 50? Nice outfits, they have

not always fitted, but these ones do, fortunately. From until round

three we will not see too much develop.

These are the Brazilians. I am not going to say they are making at the

numbers, but they get entrance because they either host nation.

This pair have got fantastic results over the years. They had a real

fight on their hands back in Australia with another fantastic

pair. Only 23 and 20. Relatively early on in their careers. A little

bit out on this incredible. The distance from the diving board was

different. The rain is coming down a little bit more at the diving venue.

It is not headed by any means, but it might get into the eyes of the

divers. It is getting my start sheet completely soaked.

Nice loud camping, you could not miss that one. They have the home

support as you would imagine. I mentioned earlier that they got a

buy as a host nation, so we are not expecting great things from this

pair. The girl further from us is 35 years old, which is incredible to

still be diving at this level. She has had a long and illustrious

career and finishing off with the Olympic Games. They are already a

few points behind the rest of the girls. All the marks with lines

through them do not count. Here are pair of who are definitely

in with a chance of a medal, the Canadians.

And usually slightly out from the Canadians. Normally we are looking

at very precise. That was passable. You can see maybe the nerves getting

to them. Jennifer a little bit closer to the diving board. With

Pamela, you could drive a bike through that gap. It is not

perfectly synchronised. The Canadian coaching team are always very vocal,

trying to maybe influence the judges. But the judges are not

influenced in that way. The Canadians have work to do. Jennifer

Abel was a bronze medallist from four years ago with another partner.

A little bit behind on the opening dive. Now to the final pair in round

one of five. Well, it is pretty ordinary from the

Germans. That is a slightly weaker finish. Execution probably letting

the Germans down more than synchronisation.

Nora closest to us just hitting the water and throwing up too much

splash. It is eight across the board. That is quite generous, but a

fair reflection. Round one has been done. One more round of required

dives to go. Only two got the magic 50. Britain

are in joint third place. Not a bad start and we will be back to follow

their progress. News on Annemiek van Vleuten who had a horrible crash in

the women's road race. She is conscious and she has been taken to

hospital and we will bring you further updates. Gold went to the

Netherlands, her team-mate. Lizzie Armitstead did finish fifth, 20

seconds behind the winner. Fencing was a favourite of the person who

invented the modern Olympics and the current president is a former

medallist and other enthusiasts include Winston Churchill and Neil

Diamond. Great Britain have not won a medal in fencing since 1964 and

they could do it here thanks to Richard Kruse. It is his fourth

Olympics and he has already achieved more than at his previous three and

this is how he has done it so far. Eighth in Athens. That is the touch.

That is all Richard Kruse needed. He goes through. He said after London

2012 that the was going to retire. Richard Kruse through to the

quarterfinals has seen off a formidable opponent. Richard Kruse

has to settle back down and finish this off. 14-13. Is that it? Richard

Kruse waves to the crowd and punches the air and is an Olympic

semifinalist. This could be the greatest of days for Richard Kruse.

His semifinal has started and he is 3-1 up already and has made a good

start in all of his bouts so far. Let's join commentary with Graham

Bell. The other thing we see in foil is a

white light come on, that is off target and it will stop the actual

passage and they will restart where they left off. Sometimes, if a

coloured light comes on and a white light, if it is the attacking fencer

who gets the white light, no point is decided, it is not a question of

whether you hit the target or not, it is whether you had the right of

way, if you hit the target with the right way it does not matter if the

other person hits you on target. I hope that makes it clear! That is

foil. This is foil at its best, these two both won major events this

season. Alex Massialas off the mark, his dad looking quite relaxed there,

he is also his coach. Applauding calmly, it is early days. Greg

Massialas is a former Olympic fencer himself. His sister, Alex's sister

Sabrina is 20th, she did not make the very strong women's foil team,

no hit, both off target. Alexander Massialas was the youngest athlete

at any sport in the US team in London 2012. That gave him the

experience to come here with already one Olympic Games under his belt.

Conversely Graham, it is Kruse's fourth Olympic Games, I had a brief

chat with the chef de mission of Team GB, he says that Richard is

someone to look up to 14 members in all sports in Team GB. He has the

experience and he likes to work things out -- for all team members.

He speaks fluent Hungarian, when he is not fencing, he travels to

countries, way off the beaten track. And he plays the bagpipes, I wonder

if he has a set in the Olympic Village? That won't go down quite so

well! Parried out by the American, hit with the riposte, drawing level,

big support for the American by the sounds of things in this crowd. In

the quarterfinal, Alexander Massialas had an absolute battle to

get through against his Italian opponent, 14-8 down. Amazingly he

came back through, it would have taken a lot of energy from him but

also given a huge adrenaline pump going into the semifinals. Massialas

sneaking ahead... Kruse got the better of the beginning but still

early days. Massialas speaks fluent Mandarin, we are talking about

Richard Kruse speaking Hungarian fluently, Massialas speaks fluid

Mandarin. -- fluent. He won the Grand Prix recently, which is

fantastic, he says his grandmother was there to witness it.

A fabulous attack from Kruse, that takes years of training, to land

that hit with such accuracy, and with a flick which, these days, is

very tough to do in foil. It is harder now, if they have changed the

waiting of the button at the end of the foil, the amount of time the

foil hats to stay on the target for the kids to register is a bit longer

than it used to be. Three apiece, one minute left in this first

period. Three periods of three minutes with a one-minute break in

between the two. That is one for Richard Kruse. Another stop it. That

means it was not his turn to attack, he got in and got out the way, if

you only put one night on the box, it is enough. It does not have to be

your turn so long as you do not get hit -- one light on the box.

Trying another... Does not land it this time, picking up the right of

way, but a brilliant block from Massialas. You can use your sword

arm as well as your sword to defend yourself. As you can see in the

replay, Massialas brings his arm right back to block the flick from

Richard Kruse. Four each. The flick to shoulder is not working, it may

have smarted a bit on Massialas, totally accidental from Kruse but a

counter attack from Massialas lands, you see him standing upright to stop

the flick from going over the shoulder. A nice move from the

Americans. Followed up with a very simple attack. Kruse has to keep his

head in the game now. 6-4 to the American. Kruse finds the

parried but Massialas is on a bit of a roll... He lands hit after hit

after hit. What can Richard Kruse do now? He has to get back into his

dancing footwork coming forward but what Massialas is doing is stepping

in and immediately closing the distance write-up. For me, Kruse has

juiced up and the distance, as he is doing right up -- has to step up.

Massialas pressing, Kruse tries his hardest to come through. The referee

called a halt there. 7-4 is still the score, 34 seconds left on the

clock before the first of these breaks. Off target from Massialas.

If Richard Kruse could take a medal here, it would... I think it would

be the first British medal of the Rio Olympics. The first British

fencing medal for over 50 years. If we are talking about fencing

medals... Last time Britain won a gold medal, only time... That was

Gillian Sheen in 1956 in Melbourne. That was 60 years ago, the last

medal Britain won in fencing was a silver in 1964. Bill Hoskins in the

epee 52 years ago. At the moment it seems Massialas is not going to

worry about whether Britain will get a medal, he's on a roll his own. He

wants the gold medal for sure. Time for a final attack... Yes. Was it

off target? It was indeed. Kruse's attack, off target. Although

Massialas hit on target committee does not register a point. We go

into the first break with the American 8-4 up over the Britain,

Kruse. Greg Massialas talking to his son,

blowing heavily here, but he takes on some fluid. Kruse not looking as

puffed out as Massialas. His coach is giving him some advice, he stayed

fairly calm at the moment, I think Richard likes that. He does not like

to be put on the high stress, he wants to fence his natural game, but

Massialas with the lead could come out and try to finish this one off

quickly. An intriguing second period to come up as we watch these

beautiful slow motion replays. It was the coach who got Richard Kruse

into fencing in the first place... Yes, Richard's mum was looking for

something for him to do while he was a kid, he was a bit of a... He

needed constant entertainment, and I think that she bumped into the

coach, he was a neighbour of hers, in a supermarket. He said, bring him

to my fencing club and I will look after him for a couple of hours.

Here he is at his fourth Olympics. Well, one victory away from a medal.

If he loses this, then he will fight off for bronze but I'm sure he's

coming on to be pieced to do something about this 8-4 deficit. Up

against the world number one in Alex Massialas, coached by his father

Greg, fighter from San Francisco. I suspect Massialas is coming out on

the attack. I'm sure Richard and his coach knew that would happen, they

will have a plan to deal with that. Massialas is a whirlwind when he is

on a run. Kruse is the master tactician. There is one back. Next

one! He wants another Olympic success, the coach. He has been at

multiple Olympics over the years. If Alex Massialas's body was a

pincushion, all hits would be on the back of Massialas's shoulder. That

is where Kruse is hitting most of the time. There is the other. They

stop hit into the shoulder at the front this time. Drag Massialas just

saying to his son... Alex, do not go so big in your first step on the

attack, that is where you are vulnerable to the stop it of Kruse

-- Greg Massialas. Pick your time, set it up! Take your

time to set it up, do not rush in, Kruse is dangerous with the counter.

Kruse has the experience, 33 years old against the 22 year rolled

Massialas. And Kruse... I think Massialas found the beat and has the

right of way. -- 22-year-old Massialas.

Although Kruse headfirst, Massialas beat the blade, meaning it was no

longer the attack of Kruse. The right-of-way changed hands. Take

your time, set it up! The instructions keep coming from the

Father, Greg will stop the Americans have won fencing gold in the past.

Two golds in the women's sabre. They will be fencing in a couple of days'

time in the stadium. Another point for Alex Massialas, confirmed by the

video. Massialas is getting hit after hit. Richard Kruse is finding

it difficult to find a way through. Massialas is showing why he is the

world number one. He can fence at a very high intensity but Kruse has

definitely got an influence on the speed of the match, Massialas

matches up to him. Whoever wins this, it is looking a little bit

more like it's going to be Alexander Massialas who will face Daniele

Garozzo in the final. It's another hit for Alexander Massialas.

What can Richard Kruse do now? The stop it has been working. But

Massialas has just slowed the start of the attack, so Kruse has to come

out on the attack himself -- stop hit. 12-6, does not want to take any

risks, Kruse attacks, Massialas almost off the back line. Kruse

keeps him under pressure... He needs the space... Another attack from

Richard Kruse, not out yet. He needs to keep pressure on Massialas,

Massialas has worked how to land the attack and he cannot afford for

Massialas to build an attack. Kruse needs to get some more points on the

board, if he wants to stay in contention, 15 is the target,

Massialas now attacking... Kruse going past. He misses the first to

the shoulder but somehow Massialas was unable to land, he turns his

body a little and Kruse lands with a continuation of his riposte. Just

looking at the video replay to see if Kruse stepped off the side of the

piste before the hit actually landed...? That is set point.

That is Massialas turning and Massialas who went past Kruse, he

scores a valid touch. Within four he needs a couple more to make

Massialas think a bit more. The patient approach from the American

has been working in this fight. The riposte... Not given. They beat

attack going through. Just blocked out the attack from

Kruse. A bit too obvious from the British fencer there, already in a

closed line when he tried to land the attack.

Massialas is just two points away from booking a place in the final.

Richard Kruse needs to do something now. Parry riposte off target for

the British fencer. Massialas is not being given the chance to build his

attack. Richard Kruse is working very hard, but he has got to stay

right in this. That is a good one from Richard Kruse. Massialas had

not started his attack, he was thinking about it. And Richard Kruse

said, have that. There we go! Richard Kruse thought

he had stepped in and blocked. Massialas is one away from fighting

for gold in Rio at the Olympic Games.

He has one foot in the final. And that is it. Massialas is through to

the final. The Americans cheer. Huge roar from the young American. And it

will be an Italy, American final. There is a chance for Richard Kruse

to get a medal because he will be fighting for the bronze medal. If

you were inspired by that, go to our website to find out more about

fencing. We go back to the diving. Leon Taylor and Bob Ballard are your

commentators. Great Britain are joint third at the

moment going into round 34 Pelissier blank and Rebecca Gallantree. We

have already seen forward one half somersault with one twist.

Ever so slightly out of time. That will be a little bit annoying. This

one is pretty solid for them. You can see the expressions on their

face. The judges were penalised and quite heavily on the

synchronisation. We can only be looking at sevens. She is explaining

she had a new buckle which will explain her lack of height. That is

annoying, but there is nothing they can do. Whichever one of the

Italians it is, they are shutting out the noise and staying focused.

We join the Australians for their first optional dive. These two need

to get going because currently they are at the bottom of the pile.

Right on cue, you did suggest they pick up a little bit. Their first

two rounds were not so good. This was better. An in which two and a

half somersault is in the pike position. Annabel closest to us made

a bit of a mess up on her entry to the water. She will probably only

get sevens on execution. The Australians are potentially closing

the gap. They are a couple of points behind Great Britain.

It looked like it was a little bit confusing. You do not need to be an

expert at home to see that that was not quite as synchronised as the

previous dive. They were twisting at different times which gives the

impression they are out of time, but they hit the water at the same time.

A little bit of jiggery-pokery going on. You can see it in slow motion.

She goes sideways. You can really see in the slow motion it is a

little bit wonky. They are delighted to be here, though. No great

expectancy of them. We are expecting the Canadians to

get into the groove and start clicking now. They need to do it now

as well. Well, right on cue, Bob, you have

invited the Australians to join the party and they did and you invited

the Canadians to join the party, and they did. That is much better from

this pair. You would expect them to get a medal in this event. They got

a bronze medal four years ago. To be fair Jennifer is a bit of a banana

as she goes into the water. For the Canadians that is a default setting.

Whatever they do just shout. Tell the judges it is OK. They will stay

probably a distant like they were after the first two rounds. Watching

these two and the coaches, they respond the same way whether it is

nine or five. Does it through the judges? Probably not by now. Now we

move on to the Germans. -- doesn't fool the judges?

Well, the Germans are really attacking the take-off and

forgetting to come out of the dive in time. You can see the frustration

on his face. It is a little bit scruffy and they both go way over.

The synchronisation is OK, the execution has let them down. We are

starting to see gaps appearing in this field. You go, the looks of the

coaches. 16.30 is not what was required or anticipated. They have

moved down the pecking order. China, Italy and Malaysia, a surprise

pairing here. Germany pulled away quite badly in that round into

seventh. It is a good atmosphere. She is on track for a fifth Olympic

gold medal. 20 of support from the Chinese in the Aquatics Centre. It

is quite cold. It is colder today, so the divers are trying to keep

moving. It will be difficult for appearing number one. It will also

get dark quite early year because it is winter into spring. We have got

spotlights. The illumination is fine.

Oh, not quite as bright as they would have hoped. Nowhere near as

brilliant as I saw them perform in training. The spotlight was on them

and they needed to make this count. Maybe they looks at the scoreboard

and thought, oh, my goodness, we are in bronze. That will not be good

enough to hold that spot. The dive was OK.

That is ten points less than the third point dive. The door is open

for the lesser medals. Who wants third? The second is wide open as

well. The Italians have been OK so far. Here they are. This is the

highest tariff we have seen so far from any of the pairings. A bit more

risk and reward strategy. The steps for all ladies were all

over the show. A bit of a kamikaze take-off. The spinning speeds were

out. It is a little bit here and there as they go in. A bit of a

mix-up. I think they will only get sevens at best on the

synchronisation. Right on cue, the Italians who were comfortably in

second, have also made mistakes. Now the door is even wider open. We are

looking to see if anybody gets consistency here. We have seen a lot

of patchy diving. Whether that is to do with the conditions or not,

because we are outside. The conditions are it is the Olympic

Games and a straight final and they are twitchy! We do not expect

twitches from the Chinese. There you go, a tremendous died from

team China. That has separated the field will stop right when they

needed it, we are going to see a bag full of nine is from execution and

synchronisation. This is how you do it. A beautiful fourth round dive.

The judges do not see the replay. This is for our enjoyment and I am

thoroughly enjoying that replay. High fives, they know they have a

huge amount of daylight between them and the rest of the field. Unless

something goes dramatically wrong in round five, they will hold onto the

gold medal position. They have taken a little while to

get into the top echelon of diving, but they are right up there.

They have got some ground to make up, but they are not too far adrift.

That needed to be good to get them back into contention. The

synchronisation was bang on, the execution was a bit scruffy. We are

looking for the vertical entry into the water. All the hard work had

been done. Pelissier Blagg lost a bit of tension as she went in. Her

left wrist is heavily strapped and she is working with the medical

team. She will be going to surgery quite soon. Yes, that was a bit off.

Precisely the same marks in round three and round four.

The Australians are building a little head of steam.

Well, the Australians have joined the competition. They are going from

strength to strength. Beautiful synchronisation. Annabel was

fractionally ahead of Madison as she entered the water. Will they get

eight on synchronisation? I think a slight difference when they entered

the water will prevent that from happening.

The ones with the lines through them do not add into the score.

The Australians are in behind the Malaysians in fourth place, they

will be happy with that. The Canadian still to go as well.

It's another big dive for this pair... In with 2.5, with a pike.

She is loud! It looks like someone popped a court at the same time, all

kinds of destruction is going on. That was, well,... -- cork. We

aren't sure what happened, there were sirens going by, noise is going

on, they needed a four meter springboard to complete the dive, it

was definitely shonky, all the way through, the execution marks will be

very low. Super slow motion. The water comes up too soon to meet

them, no more room. They did not ask for a re-dive. It sounded like

someone was opening champagne from the other commentary positions.

Now, onto the Canadians. 3.1, my goodness me, this could project them

right up the standings. It has an extra degree of difficulty. I often

think, at 3.5, there is a lot going on here. The Canadians are waiting

for the noise, there is a lot of music blaring from somewhere.

A dear friend of mine, the Canadian coach, a fantastic dive in his time

as well. I wonder where that music is coming from? There are no

synchronised swimming is in... It is coming from somewhere in the Olympic

Park. It is in-house. It looks like there is a technical hitch going on.

Here we go, the judge letting everyone know that the scoreboards

and the various recorders and all of their computers are settling down...

OK, you might be onto this, around the back of the diving boards as we

can see, are they going to get a re-dive? Let's wait and see. Will be

within their rights, if you like, to ask for one, if something happens. A

very famous opening dive, from Tom Daley in London, the flashes went

off so Tom asked... Let's see. It looks like the Canadians are coming

down... No, they are going back on. And resolved, eventually. 47.7

counts for the Brazilians. Back to what we are talking about, this huge

dive, it could get them a medal and take them completely out of the

standings. That synchronisation was excellent! All the way through, just

Pam, furthest from us, a slight over rotation, you can see her shaking

her head and the frustrations getting to them, synchronisation

good all the way through. When you have ground to make up, you want

something that will score over 70, I think this is just shy of 70

points... Wow, this is going to be really tight going into the final

round. Of course, the Germans still to go in this round, before we start

talking about the leaderboard, but it is squashed, very, very squashed!

68.82 for the Canadians. They slipped just, and I do mean just,

you will see what I mean in a few moments time, into third place.

Behind China and Italy, Malaysia in -- inching in. Only four points away

from bronze as things stand, Team GB. Taking the Germans into account,

at the moment, Germany are in seventh. This has to be fairly

spectacular. Again, it is a forward 3.5, as we saw from the Canadians.

They got 68.82 on theirs... It is OK, it is possible from the Germans.

-- passable. A complicated dive with a lot going on. You can see the

different way of attacking this. He diver closest to us chopping the

dive off, and giving the impression that she is miles ahead of her

partner but they kind of hit the water at the same time, pretty

ordinary is my summary on that one. We will find out what the judges

think of that in a moment. It is incredibly tight from silver

downwards at the moment. Tina Punzel and Nora Subschinski, out of

realistic medal contention unless everyone falters badly. They stay

exactly as they are, in seventh. Let's have a look at this, my word!

The top six are all in medal contention, I think we can probably

discount Brazil and Germany, Brazil at this stage with China, beaten by

25. Looking at the round Agricola last round of dives, each pairs are

opting for a 3.0 degrees of difficulty -- looking at this last

round of dives. As predicted... Bob and I are sat

here thinking, reflecting and wandering, whether it would be down

or close going into the final round. As predicted, the Chinese are out in

front, we expect for them to smash it. Where will the other medals go?

There are five teams... Five teams basically going for two medals here

in round five. The final round, six for the men, five for the women.

This is the round that will sort them out. We have managed to do that

so far, the Chinese are gold medallists. Silver and bronze with

several countries all in with a chance. 2.5 somersaults with pike.

What will we see? Feeling the pressure! That is a mishap, the

first three rounds of dives were electric. Then, somebody shut down

the power. 2.5 with a pike position, it looks OK... Until that

all-important entry into the water. The diver closest to us landing

short of vertical, execution marks for her will be lower than her

partners, therefore the knock-on to be synchronised means that they will

only get mid-60s at best on this. Let's have a look... A bit of a

grimace, a big hug but a grimace to accompany it. 64.8 will not cut it.

I do not think in round five... They need in the upper 60s, perhaps 70,

to really narrow it down for a medal. That probably will not do.

64.8 is their top mark. Can they get their Olympic gold medal? Four years

ago, there were eight European titles, four Tania Cagnotto, the

last in London was just a couple of months ago. It is an elusive medal,

an Olympic medal potentially waiting for her. Tania Cagnotto and

Francesca Dallape know... It could be good enough to secure them a

medal but they will want to do better. The final dive for the

Italians. They have held it together tremendously, a final tremendous

dive for the Italian pair. I know Tania Cagnotto well, I have watched

her and the heartbreak of coming so close, they know that they have

thrown down the market. Let's see what the judges go with. They had

six points going in, they have probably done it... That will be a

medal for Italy, Tania Cagnotto following in the first acts of her

father, Giorgio. Winning an Olympic medal, but not yet... -- footsteps.

A great final dive and a terrific effort from these girls. And there

is a hushed descending on the pool, we do not yet have the marks. Now

they are arriving, the Italians know... We can see the marks. 74.70,

the biggest mark we've seen apart from the Chinese. 76.5 was their

best. Outside of the Chinese, 74.7. Tania Cagnotto and Francesca

Dallape. Wu Minxia there, going for her fifth

Olympic God metal, more records to her name than an Olympic car-boot

sale -- gold medal. It's gold for China! The first of

many. Potentially. What a dive to finish on, 2.5 somersaults in the

pike position, they did not look so formidable today, this pair, but Wu

Minxia, a record-breaking fifth gold medal, awesome diving, and what an

athlete. I do not use the word "Legend" very often but in diving

terms, Wu Minxia certainly wears that label. She has certainly earned

it. What an athlete. And a smile there. From both of them.

Incredible. Prior to today, six Olympic medals, that is number

seven. Four Golds, Inga Max over, and one bronze prior to today. --

one silver. Seven diving World Cup goals, she's

pretty much done it all. Starting in Athens, 2004. On the three metres

synchronised diving platform, all the way through, she has been right

at the top of her game. If China have nailed down first place... And

Italy might look like they have silver, the bronze is certainly

still there. It is hanging tantalisingly for Alysia Blagg and

Rebecca Gallantree. A big dive, 3.1, 3:5... A wonderful final dive from

our girls. They have had a tough time out there today, in rounds

three and four, faltering slightly. This is a classy finish, their most

difficult dive marginally out on the spin speeds, as you can see clearly

here. Ending up pretty much at the same time. A strong finish. Is it

enough for a medal? I'm not sure it will be. Let's wait and see. A

little too much to do. No, agonisingly it will not be, that

puts them in fourth place by Malaysia, only just, but 66.03 is

not quite enough. We are talking about halfway mark, basically,

between third and fourth. 67 would have done it, 66 didn't, for Alicia

Blagg and Rebecca Gallantree. Look at Alicia Blagg's face. Almost

inconsolable at the moment. She knows how tantalisingly close they

have come. A few more to go yet. They might make it academic anyway.

They want to go... And interestingly -- interesting piece of counting.

I'm not sure how Anabelle Smith managed to hang on there, all ten of

her toes were over the diving board. My goodness, she nearly slipped off

the edge but manages to wait and throw herself into the air. Wow. The

Aussies finally getting it together, and still in contention for the

bronze medal. They have done it as well, getting into third place. Wow.

Here comes confirmation... 71.10, they beat Great Britain and Malaysia

into third place, only Canada can stop them from getting a medal

now... Not happy, they never are. Smiles on their faces now, they know

that they have done the job. 42 in the second round. That nearly

scuppered their chances but they have come back strongly. The

Brazilians with their last dive. A big effort.

It ended up OK. It is a big died. There was lots going on. Almost in

time. The rotation speeds are good. Low on the water, the execution

marks will be low. This is their best dive, the resilience, what they

are finishing with. Put my teeth back in, hugs all around. They are

in eighth place as predicted. Rounding off with their highest

mark. 60.4 five. They get a great reception as indeed they deserve.

Now, at the moment it is China, Italy and Australia, one, two,

three. They will need eight to get the bronze here across the board.

They are more capable of doing that. Well, there was a huge gap between

them. You could drive a bus through that gap. My goodness me, what will

the judges do with that? They did hit the water at the same time.

Everything is good but there is a huge gap. Have the Canadians thrown

away a medal? Will they sneak a bronze. Will it be Australia? Let's

wait and see what happens. I have got my hands over my microphone as

well. They have seen it. The confirmation mites. We are waiting

and they are waiting, Australia do not know, Canada do not know. They

have not done it. It means they fall shy of the bronze medal place by

just one point. Ouch. So, Canada, by virtue of not getting into the upper

60s, have handed the bronze medal to them. They cannot believe it. After

the start they had they cannot believe they have got the bronze

medal. I can't. But they have. Yes, finished off in style with

their favourite dive. The Germans finishing strongly. Look at the

emotion from the Australian pair. Not that the Germans could affect

the results. They were diving pretty ordinary, the Australians. This is

the German replay. The diving taking place here is a random style order,

so it is a shuffle of the pack, so they are not diving in reverse order

as in the individual. You do not see the best team diving last. The

German team are seventh overall. We will wrap up things in terms of

rank order and where the medals have gone. That was a real shuffle from

start to finish. Every single round we had different people in second or

third. The Chinese are celebrating on the far side. The Italians are

celebrating a silver medal. And at last Tania Cognotto has an Olympic

medal. She has everything else in her locker, European medals, world

medals, but until now an Olympic medal has eluded her. I am delighted

for Tania Cognotto. Francesca is on her telephone out of screen. She has

had a long career, Tania Cognotto, and finally she get that elusive

Olympic medal to join her father, who was a multiple Olympian himself.

This is confirmation of the result. Another gold medal for Wu Minxia.

Becky, what are your thoughts? It did not come together for us today

and we are disappointed. It was great to compete out there and it is

brilliant in Rio, but a little disappointed. You do not often died

outdoors, what with the conditions like? It was cold and windy, but it

did not affect me. I do not know if it affected you. We got into hot

tub, we have got heated jackets and we did everything we could to stay

warm. Like Becky said, it did not come together. In the majority of my

dives I dropped, so it is my fault really. It is not, we are a team and

we succeed together and we failed together. I did not say that we

failed today, we just ended up where we are. It is unfortunate on the

Olympic stage. But we have been a partnership for a long time and it

is great to come to the Olympics and I love competing with her and it is

great. You have kept very quiet about your wrist injury, it must

have had some effect. In the past week I have had to have an injection

on every single training session. It is just to numb the pain so I cannot

feel anything. It has not been great, but that is not why I didn't

dive well. I have missed a lot of training and competition is due to

the injury and injections over the years, but I do not know what

happened. I am having surgery on the 22nd of August and it will be over

and done with. 2020 it is. It was a strange competition in lots of ways

because nobody was consistent apart from the Chinese. I did not pay

attention to what was going on in the rest of the competition. But

looking at the scores at the end I was surprised it was only 299 for a

medal which makes it even more frustrating because we know we could

have done it. It is just so frustrating. But that is sport and

sometimes it goes well and sometimes it does not and unfortunately today

it didn't. You are sticking together in the next four years? We will have

to wait and see what happens after rear. Definitely. Good luck,

whatever it is. They are dejected, having finished

sixth. Tomorrow you will get to see Tom Daley interaction with Dan

Goodfellow, they are going in the ten metre synchro and they have

picked up many medals together, silver and bronze, three of each so

far. Great Britain are playing New Zealand in the hockey on BBC Four

right now. Later on we will be watching Great Britain up against

Fiji in the rugby sevens in quarterfinal action. But we will

find them in a moment whether Richard Kruse can win Great Britain

the first medal of the Olympics in fencing. Here is how it works. The

aim of Olympic fencing is simple, to hit an opponent with a sword without

being hit in the process. When a weapon makes contact with the target

area, the hit is recorded electronically, using wireless

technology and point is scored. There are three types of swords in

fencing, epee, foil and sabre. Epee is a heavy thrusting sword. It has a

large card and a stiff, triangular blades. It's our only scored with

the point of the blade, but they can be to any part of the body. Foil is

the lightest with a flexible rectangular blade blunted at the

point. Points can only be scored with the tip and bust land within

the target area, the torso. Sabre is similar in length and weight to the

foil, but a fencer is able to cut with the blade and hit with a point.

The target area is from the waist to the top of the head. In foil and

sabre the rules of rights of way strongly favoured the fencer who

attacked first. If both hit simultaneously, the point goes to

the competitor who makes the first move. Each bout can last up to three

minutes, that if a fencer makes 15 hits before the time expires, the

bout finishes. In the team event there are three fencers per team and

each one compete against everyone from the opposing team. The first

bout finishes after someone makes five hits or three minutes. The

second bout finishes after a team makes ten hits or the bout reaches

three minutes, and so it continues. The score is cumulative, so a match

will finish when a team reaches 40, 45, or after the night bout.

Britain sent over three fencers for the foil competition and one is

still standing, Richard Kruse. We saw him lose his semifinal, but that

gives him a chance to win a bronze medal. It is happening over there.

In case you wonder how you will recognise him, luckily the country's

flag is on the face of the helmet. This is the men's individual foil

individual about. It is great written against Russia.

And there is Richard Kruse. He lost to Alexander Massialas in the

semifinal. Now he has got to pick himself up for this bronze medal

bout. His opponent is stony faced Timur Safin. This is his

progression. He beat James Andrew Davies on the way through to the

semifinal. Richard Kruse has had a slightly

longer break than Safin. Safin came off the piste about 25 minutes ago,

so he has had less time to pick himself up. The referee is from

Poland. They prepare themselves and test

their weapons. So, here we go, with the bronze

medal match at the Carioca three Arena. This could be the chance for

Britain to win their first Olympic fencing medal in 52 years and become

the first team GB athlete to win a medal in Rio 2016. That is how much

it means for Richard Kruse. This is his fourth Olympic games. He has the

experience. Can he put that into practice. He is up against a Russian

who is 24 years old and who has never fenced in the Olympics before.

He is ranked 12th. Richard Kruse is ranked sixth. These two have not met

in this Olympic cycle, so no previous history. Right on the back

line, Richard Kruse showing how much he is up for this with a big fist

pump. Timur Safin is cool, calm and collected. He has absolutely serene

footwork and he can hypnotise an opponent. But Richard Kruse can beat

anyone on his day because he is a master tactician. Safin has been

fencing absolutely superbly and he is a real threat in this bronze

medal match. James Davis actually had a good lead

on Timur Safin, and a very good chance of knocking him out of the

competition. He could give him some advice as to

what to do against the Russian. He will have been speaking to the

performance analyst to look at some videos of Timur Safin. Today, you

really have to look at the attack of Timur Safin, he has been brilliant.

The hit has been awarded to Timur Safin, Kruse calls for a video, I

don't know if that is a good idea at this early stage. Here is the

beach... Does he look for a second? -- beat. He might well have done. In

that case, it is the right of way of Richard Kruse. He does find the

blade first, but then there is another swish. He comes back to make

his decision... And he gives it to the Russian. He gives it to Timur

Safin. The hand up on the right-hand side signalling the point has gone

to the Russian. One light on the box, if you are new to fencing,

let's explain it quickly. Foil is the lightest and most accurate of

the weapons, there are three, Sabre, epee and foil, Boyle has a

right-of-way system, which is the same as Sabre, -- foil. The referee

has to establish who is the attacking sensor, it does not matter

who hits first, if two coloured lights come on, that means a hit on

target, that was a single light on, that goes the way of Timur Safin

making it 3-2. If two coloured lights come on, it does not matter

who hit first but who had right-of-way, who started the attack

first. Were they parried and was the riposte on target? The whole passage

of play has to be decided by the referee. At the moment, Timur Safin

makes it easy for the referee, single light hits, Kruse has been on

the podium a couple of times in major events this season, a silver

medal in the Tarentum -- touring Grand Prix. Timur Safin

has had most recent success. He won the European Championships just a

couple of months before the Olympic Games, a few weeks before the

Olympic Games. Kruse claims that one... He's not going to get it...

Timur Safin has had a mixed bag this season, he won the first World Cup

in San Jose in October. Here he coming off the back of the European

Championship win. He's looked absolutely superb today. His

compound attack has been absolutely brilliant, breathtaking. The blade

is found by Kruse but he hits off target and has the right-of-way,

despite it being a white light and him not scoring a hit it means that

Timur Safin does not get the green light hit. They reset where they

were on the piste when the off target hit was awarded. Again,

another off target hit. It's important, if you are attacking, to

get a light on the box. If there is no light on and your opponent hits

you, there will definitely be a point against you. The white lights

are important. At the moment, Timur Safin has got the measure of Kruse

to your committee has the distance right and is able to control it

going forwards and backwards -- Kruse here. Kruse has to break Timur

Safin's morale. Timur Safin is stonefaced. Showing very little

emotion during the bout. Non-valid, it goes to Kruse, with a white

light. Kruse with a stop hit, that is his

trademark, he really likes that hit. He did not have much space to land

it but he managed to get it on a single light, on the counter, he

does not have the right-of-way, he must ensure he does not get hit and

landed perfectly. It is possible to hit when it is not

your turn. That was Timur Safin's right-of-way, he was off target,

it's possible to hit if it is not your right-of-way, so long as you do

not get hit? Yes, if you don't have the right-of-way, you must avoid

your opponent's attack. A riposte from Kruse. Really, Timur Safin on

the back line. This time, Kruse goes direct and lands the fourth hit,

back within one. Just to explain the timings, this is fence, the timing

is over three minute, 33 minute sections, we may not go to that, it

is also the first to 15 -- three three minute sections. There is less

than one minute to go to the break. Richard Kruse wants to go in level

pegging, if he can score the next one? It is 6-4 to Russia. Seeing how

the Russian is doing, he is able to take the Parry as he goes backwards

and he is still able to land the riposte by reaching out as he goes

backwards. It is a lovely hit from the Russian. Kruse finds a way

through, on the arm, it is off target. An issue with the front foot

of Timur Safin. He shaves that one off.

Richard Kruse has the experience, he is a real thinker. He really likes

to analyse. Kruse goes right over, he had an

issue with his back earlier this season, is waving off a request from

his coach to find out whether he is OK. He says he is fine, she does not

have the measure of Timur Safin at the moment on distance, Timur Safin

is definitely working on a beat of the blade, we did not see that much

earlier in the day. He has decided that he has to get Kruse's blade in

order to clearly establish the right-of-way. 30 seconds left on the

clock before the first break. Kruse needs to get a couple of points

back... Cannot let Timur Safin get too far ahead... That's another one

to the Russian. This is so important for British fencing. It's been 52

years since a British fencer last won an Olympic medal. It's just as

important for the Russian Federation... They aren't in the

gold-medal match today, but they want to try to get the best they can

out of this. Timur Safin is doing a cracking job. Launches that running

attack. A compound attack, beating the blade first, going low high,

with Kruse unable to defend it at the moment. It will be Kruse crying

out for this break in just under ten seconds. There is time for one more

attack... Kruse, flipped over. The light came up afterwards. It was a

continuation for Timur Safin. He hit is given to Kruse on the attack. --

the hit. He is still in it. Six seconds are left on the clock before

the break. Now, clearly looking at the video

replay here. Was it Timur Safin who called? It must have been... They

must have asked for it off-camera. Yes, it stays with Kruse. Not happy

with that decision. The Russian coach is actually Italian. Pinch by

the Russian team. We go into the break.

Richard Kruse has an immense sense of fair play, doesn't he? There was

one time when he was qualifying for the London Olympics can he did not

realise there was another match he could go to. Another competition, a

satellite event where he could clear up some points come he was against

someone from another country and contact them, and said we have

another competition to get some points. If we win that event... He

alerted his competition to the fact he could score points, they both

went there and his honesty paid off because Richard Kruse qualified for

the London 2012 games, as he has done here with the British team.

They qualified by rites of being the highest ranked European team outside

of the top four in a massive season long tussle with Germany, and Russia

qualified as a top four team. Timur Safin and he are fighting for the

bronze. In a very strong position. The men's competition takes place on

Friday the 12th. They come back, en garde, for this

second period. Richard Kruse on the left, Timur Safin of Russia on the

right. He gives it to Kruse. You could read the Italian's face here.

The Russian coach... Giving it the old Italian shrug of the shoulders.

They might be reviewing this one as well. There they are.

This could be the second of Timur Safin's video appeals... He has

changed it. That was a good call from Timur Safin.

He does not normally insist on a video replay and less it is a dodgy

decision from the referee. A big pressure now on Kruse. Unbelievable.

Timur Safin tries to push Kruse over the backline. A riposte, parried,

the counter riposte was parried, they got caught up. Trouble now for

Kruse. It was a riposte for Timur Safin. A nice hit, Kruse is in a

world of pain, trailing by six in the bronze medal match. Kruse, going

for a flick over the shoulder and landing it but it was not his

right-of-way. Timur Safin, 11-5, the target is 15. The referee called a

halt before Richard Kruse made contact. Timur Safin had let go of

his weapon. For me, Richard has to put a little

more. Richard Kruse, Timur Safin is controlling the fight and he is

staying on top of Richard, pushing him to the backline. The fences are

just testing their weapons there. Back under way, that is difficult to

call but he has given it to Kruse. Timur Safin uses up another one of

his video requests. Of course, if overturned committee gets to keep

it. The slow motion of that. -- overturned, he gets to keep it.

The referee had to decide who advanced their hand first.

Simultaneous to me, but the referee went with Kruse.

He comes back, this decision is very important. Your attack stopped, he

has given it to Timur Safin. He says that Kruse stopped on his attack.

That is a big call and a great decision again by the Russian to

call for a video. What could have been 11-6 is now 12-5 and a massive,

almost insurmountable lead, for the Russian. It looks like he's marching

his way to the bronze medal here. I don't want to write off Richard

Kruse too early but this is not the king good for the British fencer,

5-12. -- looking good. He is down against the Russian.

Maintaining his composure... He needs to do that. Surely he is going

to give that as a riposte? Really he should give the yellow card to the

Russian for pushing his shoulder in. The Parry is clearly taken. Timur

Safin is pushing himself, body to body, surely that is a yellow card

offence? The Russian knows what he is doing,

he can afford to be given a yellow and he has been for body to body

contact. If he gets another yellow card it becomes a red card. He is

not sent off but it means his opponent gains a point. A single

light on the box, another point for Kruse.

It could be the start of an amazing comeback. We have seen them in

fencing many times before, and even here today... Two in a row for

Kruse. He needs a couple more to make Timur Safin worried.

Sabin looking for a Kruse's blade to establish the right of way. It looks

like he is saying you need to beat and disengage. As the Parry comes,

go underneath it. Let's see if he can execute it. A counter riposte.

Kruse was quick to close the distance. He came down on his

opponent's chest with his arm above his head. It is still a big mountain

for Kruse to climb, five points down. A rushed attack by Safin. He

was it over with and that could play into Kruse's hands. If you are going

to run into someone's blade like that, you will only give the point

the way. Kruse needs a couple of quick points. He needs to watch that

riposte going forward. Safin was almost off the edge of the piste.

Richard is now within three. Very tense moment for his contingent. And

very tense moments for his coach. I am sure Richard Kruse will be pretty

tense. But more importantly Safin, who looked like he was going to run

away with this, has suddenly lost a whole load of points in a row. That

last point was so crucial. A riposte with the disengage as instructed by

his coach. Executed perfectly. He is one away from the bronze medal.

It is cagey start because Kruse could not slip another point. Of

target. It is so close. This is not the last chance for Britain to score

fencing medals. The team event is coming up. That is a good one. A

single light on the box. A counter attack, moving his back shoulder,

moving the target out of the way. Safin thought he had it then. He

just needs one more for the bronze medal. Another one for Richard Kruse

in close quarters. He has stayed cool. If he gets another one... He

needs another two to draw level. Just one more and Safin will start

to jitter. They do say in fencing the 50 hit is always the hardest.