By Alastair Bull
A mistake at a roundabout cost New Zealander Jack Bauer crucial seconds in the men's individual cycling time trial at the Olympics.
Bauer finished 19th on the 44km course around Hampton Court Palace, more than four minutes behind the gold medal winner, Britain's Tour de France hero Bradley Wiggins.
He was cycling well early on but had his head down approaching a roundabout about 15km into the race and only just got around it.
"I don't know how I kept the bike upright but I did and I got around it," he said.
"But I lost all my speed and it takes a big effort to get back up to pace and I panicked a bit and I guess things kind of fell apart from there."
The 27-year-old said it was difficult to say how much time the mistake cost him overall.
Bauer's effort follows a highly creditable 10th in the road race and he said he was pleased with his effort at the Olympics.
"I hope I did New Zealand proud. I gave my all," he said.
"It's something different wearing your country's colours, and at Olympic level it's the pinnacle."
His effort followed Linda Villumsen's agonising fourth in the women's time trial earlier in the day, less than two seconds away from a bronze.
NZN