Fabian Cancellara confident of defending his Olympic time-trial title despite injury

Fabian Cancellara, a four-time world time-trial champion, tumbled on a right-hand corner in the final stages of the road race (Getty Images)

Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara is confident of lining up in defence of his Olympic time-trial title on Wednesday as he recovers from a crash during Saturday's road race.

The four-time world time-trial champion tumbled on a right-hand corner in the final stages of the road race while in the leading group, but avoided a broken bone.

The 31-year-old, who fractured a collarbone during the Tour of Flanders in April, said: "I am an optimist and now I hope the training today will show if the position on the time-trial bike suits me and if I can go forward.

"I feel better with every hour passing. The pain is still there, but I am in good hands. I am a hard man. I've had a lot of things happen this year.

"I have to look ahead to the next few hours and days to come to try to get the maximum potential of a good feeling in my body. Now I have to see how I sit on the TT bike.

"Maybe everything turns out okay. The mental aspect is important. I have two legs and I can ride. I have been training many, many hours for the Olympics. We will just have to see how it goes."

Swiss team doctor Andreas Goesele said: "It's almost like he's had a car crash, with a whiplash injury.

"He will have to ride with a higher level of pain than you or I, because we have to follow very precisely the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) list (of prohibited substances). The WADA list is very strict and we have to stick to it absolutely."

PA