By Martyn Herman
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Dutch cyclist Anna van der Breggen produced a perfectly-timed burst to snatch Olympic gold in a dramatic climax to the women's road race alongside the Copacabana on Sunday.
Her team mate Annemiek van Vleuten was on course for victory but suffered a horrific-looking crash on the descent of the Vista Chinesa climb with around 10km left.
American Mara Abbott was left as the sole leader on the flat run in to the finish line but with victory tantalisingly close she was caught by Van Der Breggen, Emma Johansson of Sweden and Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini.
Johansson took the silver, Longo Borghini the bronze and it was heartbreak for Abbott.
It was the second day running that the Rio course produced a spectacular spectacle and the second day a crash affected the outcome of the race.
On Saturday, Italy's Vincenzo Nibali lost control in almost the same spot as Van Vleuten and broke both collar bones.
Abbott and Van Vleuten had left their medal rivals, including reigning champion Marianne Vos and world champion Lizzie Armitstead, trailing on the 8.9km Vista Chinesa climb near the end of the 136.9km ride around Rio's lush coastline.
Van Vleuten was descending smoothly and had left Abbott in her wake and was almost at the bottom when she locked her wheels and went head first into the banking on the side of the road.
She was still motionless as Abbott went by seconds later but she was conscious when taken to hospital, organisers said.
"Ms. Van Vleuten is conscious, able to communicate. Further medical checks are currently being made at the hospital," a statement said.