Die Allianz T-D-P » their attentions to their next game on Wednesday n

RIO DE JANEIRO -- It took Swiss mountain biker Nino Schurter eight years to climb all the way up the Olympic podium, a slow ascent that was at times frustrating, heartbreaking and infuriating.He finally reached the top step Sunday.Schurter pulled away from reigning champion Jaroslav Kulhavy of the Czech Republic on the penultimate lap and rode solo to the finish, adding a gold medal to the silver he won at the 2012 London Games and the bronze he captured at the 2008 Beijing Games.I worked hard to complete my medal collection, Schurter said. My story is now perfect.The top two steps of the podium were a reversal of the finish from London, when Kulhavy overtook his biggest rival on the final section of turns at Hadleigh Farm.Schurter broke down in tears that day, so close to achieving his Olympic dream.Now looking back on London, he said, I think it had to be silver there. I worked hard to get stronger and better and Im really happy and satisfied.Schurter and Kulhavy worked together to establish a gap on the rest of the field over the mountain bike course, turned in some places to a quagmire by overnight rain. But the Swiss superstar and reigning world champion was able to up the tempo when it mattered the most.Schurter covered the seven-lap, 34-kilometer course in 1 hour, 33 minutes, 28 seconds. Kulhavy was 50 seconds back while Carlos Coloma of Spain was another 33 seconds adrift to take bronze.This was the most important moment of my career, Coloma said. I had perfect preparation. I had self-confidence. And this is a dream come true.Five-time world champion Julien Absalon of France, who intends to retire after this season, was eighth. World road race champion Peter Sagan had two flat tires and finished out of contention.Sagan decided to ride off road in Rio after scouting the climb-heavy road course and realizing it did not suit his strengths. But the decision earlier this year meant he only had time to squeeze in a couple of mountain bike races, leaving him ranked No. 900 in the world.That also meant he started with the final bib number in the very back of the pack.Just like he did in laying waste to a small race in Wyoming a couple of weeks ago, part of his post-Tour de France training plan, Sagan immediately went to the front of the field.His power came in handy given the conditions.The rain tapered off an hour before the start left, but it left the winding, technical course in the Deodoro neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro a soggy mess. Riders had to dismount and push their bikes over a few particularly slick climbs, slipping and sliding as if they were on ice.Some riders lamented they did not adjust their setup to the conditions.My bike was the same as yesterday, Kulhavy said, but maybe it was a little bit of a mistake because I had a very fast tire in the rear and I had a problem with the muddy hills.Sagans chances ultimately were ruined when his front tire went flat at the start of the second lap. He began working his way back through the field again only for his back tire to go flat.Hardly the only rider to puncture on the stone-strewn course, Sagan finished in 35th place.The race began to string out by the third of seven laps. Schurter and Kulhavy were never more than a few feet apart, the reigning Olympic champ and world champ clearly the strongest riders in the field. Coloma hung with them for a while before slowly losing ground.Absalon was two minutes down by the sixth lap, his chances of another gold medal gone.It was about that point that Schurter finally shook Kulhavy from his rear wheel, dropping the Czech champion with some daring riding on the tricky descents. He was 44 seconds clear at the start of the final lap, all alone on a course jammed with fans.By the final straightaway, Schurter was all alone.Eight years of so many close calls had been wiped away in less than two hours, Schurter at last allowed to step to the top of the podium and hear the Swiss national anthem.Im just really happy, he said. Really satisfied with my whole medal collection.Clearance Air Max . Paul Pierce couldnt believe he missed at the end. Young scored a season-high 26 points to spark a huge effort from the leagues most productive bench, and Los Angeles beat the Brooklyn Nets 99-94 on Wednesday night after blowing a 27-point lead. Cheap Air Max From China . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Cheap Real Air Max . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Air Max From China . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim.Everton boss Roberto Martinez blasted his side for never showing up in their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Premier League champions Leicester.Martinezs side found themselves 1-0 down with five minutes at the King Power Stadium after Jamie Vardys strike, before Andy King doubled the hosts advantage in the 33rd minute.Vardy made the points safe for Leicester after the break before substitute Kevin Mirallas pulled a consolation goal back with just two minutes left on the clock. And Martinez put his sides poor showing down to a lack of desire and intensity.Obviously we were well aware we were facing a team with incredible momentum and I think weve seen why they are champions, Martinez told Sky Sports. Pick your team Aguero? Ozil? De Bruyne? Pick your Fantasy Six-a-Side team for the chance to win ￡10,000 Theyve got that intent, the work ethic and the way they get into your box, we just never showed up. Thats the disappointment we have.We had no concentration whatsoever. Our defending was non-existent and as a performance its a real disappointment.We never perform like this away from home when [we] had a real need to get the points, he added. Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring from the spot against Everton It was a really poor performance and I thought only Matty Pennington applied himself with a real desire and intensity.dddddddddddd. We didnt match that anywhere else on the pitch.Everton now turn their attentions to their next game on Wednesday night against relegation-threatened Sunderland which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.And Martinez wants his side to show a different level of performance in that match. Leicester Citys Andy King (left) scores Leicesters second goal Today was a big occasion and we probably forgot to do the basics, the Spaniard said.First and foremost you have to defend your box well and then you build a platform in order to be yourself.We couldnt compete with our lack of intensity and our lack of focus. Its a major disappointment but weve got another game on Wednesday and clearly we have to react and show a completely different level of performance.Also See:Vardy stars in Leicester partyTableLive on SkyGet Sky Sports ' ' '