Comments from and about the Medalists Paolo Bettini: "It was
a very competitive race. The structure of the road which had many turns and
hills in combination with the hot weather made the race very difficult.
"I want to dedicate my medal to my family. My family, my team and God
helped me to win the gold."
Sergio Paulinho:
"It's an amazing feeling, it's wonderful. It's the best
day of my life. I didn't expect it. I'm very happy and I dedicate this medal
to my country."
Tyler Hamilton:
"This is fantastic. I've dreamt about a golden medal ever
since I was a kid. I'm really proud to represent my country. This the
greatest moment of my career."
"I rode very aggressively. I was still angry
that I had to leave the Tour de France because of a fall. But this
gold medal is a 100 percent compensation."Can somebody find my wife please?
I need my wife."
Viatcheslav Ekimov:
"It’s not so successful for me that I won a silver medal. I trained very
hard to win the gold and so I feel a bit disappointed with my performance
today. I expected to win the gold and yet it didn’t happen this time."
Bobby Julich:
On winning gold and bronze: "We had big shoes to fill after winning second
and fourth place in the Women's Individual Time Trial. But this is the best
that could have happened. This is an awesome day."
On Tyler: "I know he suffered a lot in the Tour de France, just like I did.
But it doesn't matter at all any more. We have won the gold and bronze
medal. And the suffering of the last few months is totally forgotten."
Harry van Moorsel, father of gold medal
winner Leontien Zijlaard van Moorsel:
"This is again one of her
great days out of her career. This is history. It's her last gold medal on
the road and maybe the last one in her career. It is a medal with a special
story. Directly after her fall last Sunday we were scared, but yesterday
evening I spoke to her on the telephone and I knew directly that she was OK.
"She sounded so optimistic.
She told me that she would give everything one more time. That's what she
did. In the descent she sped up to 85 kmp/h ... incredible. That's the same
speed as she sometimes had in a long descent in the Tour de France. Tonight
we will have a nice party."
Dede Demet Barry:
"I feel great and excited. There were many great athletes and I can not
believe that I took the silver medal."
"It is a technical course. You have to get focused only to your
abilities, to your technique and to your time. I have taken part in other
time trials in the past but for this one I felt strong and confident from
the beginning."
"My family was here from the beginning of this week and this helped me a
lot. It is a great support to have your family with you. Also, the climate
was hot, the pulse of the people was very strong and the level of the
competition really high. All these in combination with my desire and
confidence to win a medal were absolutely a strong inspiration."
About gold medallist van Moorsel: "She is a great athlete. She is one of
the best cyclists in the world. Congratulations to her."
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