Elia Viviani falls but goes on to claim gold in the omnium at Rio 2016. The Italian cyclist finished on 207 points, at the end of the six events, ahead of Britain's Cavendish (194) and the Dane Hansen (192), Olympic champion from London 2012.
The Italian athlete, who at the end of the first three races held yesterday was in second position with 104 points (scratch race 28; individual pursuit 36; elimination race 40), this morning moved into the lead of the overall standings with 140 points, thanks to 3rd place in time trial (1:02:338).
We have to go back to Sydney 2000 for the last podium finishes on the track, Antonella Bellutti (gold in the points race), Marco Villa and Silvio Martinello (bronze in the men's madison), with the latter also the last male gold medal winner in Atlanta 1996. This is the 23rd medal (8 golds, 9 silvers, 6 bronzes) for Italy at the 31st edition of the Summer Olympics, the second in cycling, after Elisa Longo Borghini's bronze in the women's road race.
With six days of the Games to go, the Italian team has already equalled the number of gold and silver medals won at Beijing 2008 (8 golds, 9 silvers and 10 bronzes) and London 2012 (8 golds, 9 silvers and 11 bronzes).