Cyclist wins Netherlands first gold at Rio Olympics

Cyclists Anna van der Breggen won the first gold medal for the Netherlands at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The 26-year-old triumphed in the final sprint of the leading group, only overtaking Mara Abbott in the last few hundred meters before the finish line, NU.nl reports. It was not all cheers for the Netherlands however. Annemiek van Vleuten crashed in the final descent of the 137 kilometer long ride. She just passed Abbott when she hit the asphalt hard. She lay there motionless for a while, before being transported to the hospital. She was conscious by then. Van der Breggen chose a good position in the sprint and was clearly the strongest cyclist there. Zwedish Emma Johansson won silver and Elisa Longo Borhini of Italy took bronze. Abbott came in fourth place. Van der Breggen won silver in the road race and time trial at the World Cup last year. She alwo won the Tour of Italy in 2015.