Cyclist's ambitions washed away

Frenchwoman Jeannie Longo's hopes of shining in her seventh Olympics were washed away in the rain which drenched the road race cyclists on Sunday.

"I've never really liked the rain," Ms Longo, 49, said after finishing 24th in the race won by Britain's Nicole Cooke.

"My preparation was good but I had practised in Mexico and Colorado as I was expecting the heat and I was more prepared to the conditions the men had yesterday," she added.

"I really did not find it so hot in the last couple of days," added Ms Longo, who took part in her first Olympics in Los Angeles 24 years ago.

The old lady of cycling, road Olympic champion in Atlanta 12 years ago, spent most of the day at the very back of the peloton, but not because she could not stand the pace.

"I stayed a little bit behind the bunch to avoid crashes. It's always silly to have prepared so hard to end up crashing out," she said.

In the first 78.8 kilometres flat section leading to the final circuit, she was seen leading the pack from time to time to speed up the pace and warm up for the finale.

"It's a pity we had to do this long ride across in Beijing. It would have been better to ride more laps of the circuit," she said.

There was hope for her fans when the Frenchwoman, also twice an Olympic silver-medallist, tackled the last climb in the lead and stayed in the front for a few kilometres.

But she was helpless when medallists Cooke, Swede Emma Johansson and Italian Tatiana Guderzo made their move.

"I just could not react. My legs were too stiff and, at my age, it is hard for the muscles to recuperate in the cold.

"It just very disappointing because I was in great shape and should have been in contention," she said.

Ms Longo will have another chance to add to her record, which also includes 13 world titles and 55 French titles, in Wednesday's time trial on the same course.

"In a way, this race gave me a chance to check the course. I simply hope the weather improves," she said.

Asked again if she was planning to compete in her eighthOlympic road race in 2012, she said: "Well, it's bound to be rainy in London, isn't it?"