In today’s cycling, two-time world champion, Samuel Sanchez of Spain, finished first in Men’s Road Race with a time of 6:23.49. Italian Davide Rebellin second, Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland closed in with a third. They conquered the Great Wall, sort of.

A mountainous course beginning in Beijing and ending along the ramparts of the Great Wall should provide plenty of fireworks in the Men’s and Women’s Cycling Road Races as well as the Individual Time Trial Olympic cycling events that will be held on Wednesday, August 13.

The closing stages of the race feature ramps as steep as 10 percent gradient. The challenging ascent up the narrow Badaling Pass that trails the Great Wall is a distinctive feature of the race and should prove decisive in assigning the medals.

The ramparts of the Great Wall straddling the ridgelines above the Juyongguan Pass finish area serve up a spectacular natural setting for the Beijing Olympic cycling competition.

Via Beijing 2008