'That was a tough one': Nicolas Roche finishes 28th in Olympic time trial

'I gave it everything I could. It’s been an amazing experience to get my fourth Games. I’m extremely proud'

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche competes in the Men’s Individual Time Trial during the Road Cycling at the Fuji International Speedway. Picture: Martin Rickett

Nicolas Roche closed his Olympic campaign in Tokyo with a 28th-place finish in the men’s individual time trial this afternoon, the 37-year-old clocking 1:01:23.13 over an undulating course around the lower slopes of Mount Fuji.

That brought Roche home a little over six minutes behind gold medallist Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, who bounced back from his Tour de France disappointment to rout the field by more than a minute, taking glory in 55:04.19. Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoulin took silver with Australia’s Rohan Dennis winning bronze.