Men's Cycling Road Race: British Disappoint, Vinokourov Wins Gold

While most Americans were still waking up Saturday morning, the streets of London came alive as the men's cycling road race was contested.

The crowd made the race seem like a flat stage of grand tour due to the massive amounts of people packed to see Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins compete for Great Britain. However, Wiggins and fellow Brit Mark Cavendish, who is the world's fastest sprinter in the sport, were nowhere to be seen when it mattered most.

The man who did pop up out of nowhere and win the race was Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov.

Vinokourov is 38, and he is getting close to the end of a tumultuous career that has seen him suspended because of doping in 2007. He has also won numerous races across the world, including the 2006 Vuelta a Espana.

As for the British riders, the highest placed rider for the host nation was Cavendish, but he finished all the way back in 39th place.

While Wiggins finished at the back of the pack alongside fellow Brits David Millar and Chris Froome, all three will look to do better in the time trial event on August 1st.

The two other riders that joined Vinokourov on the medal podium were Rigoberto Uran of Colombia and Alexander Kristoff of Norway.

Uran earned the silver medal and finished alongside Vinokourov ahead of the main peloton.

The bronze medal winner, Kristoff, earned his medal the hard way, as he beat out American Taylor Phinney in the field sprint to take third place.

Most of the riders that competed in the road race will have another chance to win a gold medal in the time trial event on August 1st, where Wiggins should be the favorite.