Cancellara wins men's time trial

By Deborah Charles

BEIJING (Reuters) - Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara powered his way to his second Olympic medal in four days, beating Sweden's Gustav Larsson on Wednesday to take the gold in the men's time trial.

American Levi Leipheimer finished more than a minute behind Cancellara for the bronze in the 47.3 km race against the clock that took just over an hour to complete.

Cancellara surprised himself with the bronze in the men's 245-km road race under sweltering conditions on Saturday but was the pre-race favorite for the time trial. As he crossed the finish line he pumped his arm in victory.

He then staggered off his bicycle and collapsed along some barriers while trainers poured water over him.

"One hour and 2 minutes is a really, really tough race," Cancellara said. "Now is the moment to enjoy and to be happy and proud that I won."

"I'm very, very happy and very proud of this ride today and to go home with two medals," added the 27-year-old two-time world champion in individual time trial.

In the first half of the race, the powerful Swiss time trial specialist kept switching leads with Spain's Alberto Contador. But Contador dropped off in the final lap and finished fourth.

Cancellara said he reached speeds up to about 80 kph (50 mph) on the downhill sections, but it was the long, tough uphill that taxed most of the riders.

Leipheimer, who fought a close race with Contador for the bronze, said it was his life-long dream to win an Olympic medal.

"In the situation I was in, not being able to do the Tour de France, I was really motivated," said Leipheimer, whose Astana team was barred from the Tour because of doping scandals that took place before he joined the team.

"I worked very hard for this and it paid off. I pictured myself on the top step but this is brilliant," he said.

In the time trial, the men completed two laps of a hilly circuit between two sections of the Great Wall of China.

(Additional reporting by Francois Thomazeau)