RIO DE JANEIRO -- Moments after crossing the finish line, Greg Van Avermaet lamented the many times hed fallen just short and all the close calls that have marked his cycling career.Then, he climbed to the top step of the Olympic podium and claimed a gold medal.The popular Belgian out-sprinted Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark and Rafal Majka of Poland on the long run to the finish at Copacabana Beach on Saturday, winning a chaotic mens Olympic road race marked by brutal climbs, withering heat and a crash involving the leaders on the final harrowing descent.The perilous conditions vanquished multiple Tour de France winners and several prerace faces, and left plenty of riders with scrapes, bruises and bloody road rash.I fell just short so often. I missed out in the end so often, Van Avermaet told reporters in Flemish at the finish line. This makes up for everything.Fuglsang took silver for Denmark. Majka began cramping but earned bronze for Poland.Nowhere to be found were Italys Vincenzo Nibali, one of the favorites, and Colombian counterpart Sergio Henao, both of whom crashed out of the lead just miles from the finish.Nibali and Henao were going so fast over the bending, forest-lined roads that TV cameras on motorbikes couldnt keep up, making it unclear what caused their spill. Both were still on the pavement when the cameras arrived -- Nibali was later found to have a broken collarbone.I feel sorry for our guys, Nibabli told his coach, Davide Cassani.More painful than the broken bone may be his squandered chance. The hard course offered a rare opportunity for the Giro dItalia winner and former Tour de France champion to compete for gold.When I saw the crash I was confused about how many riders were still up the road, Van Avermaet said. I was working with Fuglsang, and we saw Majka. We knew it was possible.Known more for his climbing chops, Majka was eventually reeled in as the race neared the finish, where a sun-splashed crowd that had spent the day on the beach awaited their arrival.The long course was tightly guarded by police, no small challenge in a host country that has been dealing with spikes in crime. The only incident occurred a few hundred meters from the finish line, where a bomb squad detonated an unattended bag hours before the riders returned.The race rolled off to the soundtrack of crashing waves and under clear, sunny skies buzzing with helicopters -- some carrying TV cameras, others from the military to provide security.Riders headed along the brilliant beaches of high-end neighborhoods, then began attacking each other on their way south. The days break quickly formed when six riders slipped away and built a gap of nearly 8 minutes, among them former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland.The brutality of the course became evident over the cobblestone sectors.Ahmet Orken of Turkey was rattled off his bike. Richie Porte of Australia had his chain bounce off.The break stayed clear through four laps of the Grumari Circuit, a 25-kilometer loop that began stringing out the field. The riders then headed back toward Rio and began three climbs of Vista Chinesa, a tough uphill slog that splintered what was left of the peloton.So hard was the course that reigning world champion Peter Sagan of Slovakia chose to try his luck in the mountain bike race. No doubt many rivals thought it was the right decision.The heat and the distance and the wind and the downhill and the cobbles. It had everything, said Brent Bookwalter, an American who finished 16th. It was really a roller coaster.One by one, a pack driven by Britain, Spain and Italy pulled back the break, though Kwiatkowski made them work for it. His jersey flapping open in the midday heat, the Polish star was finally caught by six riders after nearly 200 kilometers spent at the front.Time trial favorites Porte and Nelson Oliveira of Portugal crashed during one of the fast descents, and Porte spent was eventually taken to Vitoria Hospital in Barra for an examination. He had broken his shoulder blade in the wreck and will miss out on Wednesdays race against the clock.There was more carnage on the final march.The images of Nibali and Henao lying on the road caused a gasp among fans watching on a big screen at the finish line, and Britains Geraint Thomas joined them on the ground.Van Avermaet managed to stay upright -- all the way to the finish.The highlight of my career, the Belgian said as the sun set. Its not going to get any better.Hydro Flask Heureka . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Hydro Flask Lahev . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.hydroflasklahev.cz/ . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Hydro Flask Lilac .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Hydro Flask Cz . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months.(STATS) -- The 30th anniversary season of the Eddie Robinson Award features 15 finalists for FCS Coach of the Year.The list includes at least one representative from all 13 FCS conferences. STATS will present the esteemed Robinson Award at the national awards banquet on the eve of the NCAA Division I FCS Championship Game on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.Named for the legendary coach of Grambling State, past winners of the Robinson Award include Mark Duffner, Erk Russell, Chris Ault, Jim Tressel, Houston Nutt, Andy Talley, Paul Johnson, Joe Glenn, Jerry Kill, Jerry Moore and two-time winners Mickey Matthews, Craig Bohl and Sean McDonnell.The 15 finalists for 2016:Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State -- In the programs second season of existence, the Owls are 8-2 with a chance to earn a share of the Big South Conference title.Rod Broadway, North Carolina A&T -- The Aggies are 9-1, having beaten an FBS opponent (Kent State) for the first time, and tied for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.Steve Campbell, Central Arkansas -- With the Bears off to a 9-1 record, including a win over an FBS opponent (Arkansas State), they are tied for first place in the Southland Conference.Andy Coen, Lehigh -- After opening with two close losses, the Mountain Hawks have won eight straight games to claim their first Patriot League title and FCS playoff bid since 2011.Broderick Fobbs, Grambling State -- The Tigers are 7-1, with only a loss to Arizona, and have beaten Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents by an average of 35 points.Mike Houston, James Madison -- In his first season at JMU, the Dukes are 9-1, with only a loss to North Carolina, and have clinched their first outright CAA Football championship since 2008.K.C. Keeler, Sam Houston State -- The 10-0 Bearkats are top-ranked in the STATS FCS Top 25 and are set to play for the Southland Conference title and an unbeaten regular season.Chris Klieman, North Dakota State -- The five-time defending FCS champion Bison are 9-11, including an FBS win over Iowa, as they seek at least a share of a sixth straight Missouri Valley Football Conference title.dddddddddddd.Dale Lindsey, San Diego -- The 8-1 Toreros have clinched an FCS playoff bid with their third straight Pioneer Football League title, and fifth in six years.Jerry Mack, North Carolina Central -- An eight-game winning streak after two FBS losses has put the Eagles in position to play for a third straight MEAC championship and a first Celebration Bowl appearance.Bubba Schwiegert, North Dakota -- After two close losses, the Fighting Hawks ended the regular season with nine consecutive wins and a perfect run to the Big Sky Conference championship.Jason Simpson, UT Martin -- After losing 13 starters, the Skyhawks are 7-4, with three losses against FBS opponents, and have an opportunity to claim a share of the Ohio Valley Conference title.Bob Surace, Princeton -- The 7-2 Tigers are tied for first place in the Ivy League, needing one more win to claim at least a share of their second title in four years.Brent Thompson, The Citadel -- In his first season as a head coach, Thompson has guided the Bulldogs to their first 10-0 start and an outright Southern Conference championship.Chris Villarrial, Saint Francis -- Having turned around the Red Flash in recent seasons, Villarrial has led them to their first Northeast Conference title and FCS playoff bid.A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will select the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award following the regular season. Also this season, STATS will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), the Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year) and the Doris Robinson FCS Scholar-Athlete of the Year. ' ' '