Veteran American Kristin Armstrong claimed a third consecutive road time trial gold to deny former Russian doper Olga Zabelinskaya what would have been a controversial triumph on a rain-soaked course at the Rio Games yesterday.

Zabelinskaya had set the fastest time with only Armstrong still on course.

Armstrong had been quickest over the opening 10km and then produced a searing late burst on the Grumari circuit to clock in 44 minutes 26.42 seconds the day before her 43rd birthday.

Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen added a bronze medal to her gold in Sunday’s road race as she finished 11 seconds back.

Armstrong retired from the sport in 2009 to start a family but returned to win in London before again calling it a day.

After a three-year break and three hip surgeries she made another comeback last year with an eye on Rio.

“It’s amazing, I don’t know if it has hit me yet,” she said.

“This has been the most difficult journey. I took time off. The mind gets tired. So when I came back I was focused on Rio and it’s been difficult because I’ve had some poor performances over the last six months.”