Ballanger puts France on top of the world

Sydney: Felicia Ballanger gave France their first Olympic cycling gold on Saturday as she extended her reign at world level with victory in the 500 metres time trial.

She sped around the wooden track at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in 34.140 seconds, with Australian Michelle Ferris second in 34.696 and China's Jiang Cuihua third in 34.768.

The event was being contested at the Olympics for the first time. Ballanger has won five successive world championship titles at the distance.

She defends her Olympic sprint crown on Monday, an event she has also won five times at world championships.



(c) Reuters Limited.