Eoghan Clifford was left to rue his luck after a mechanical problem spoiled his chance of a third Paralympic cycling medal.
The Galway rider was right in the mix as a breakaway group prepared to sprint it out for the title after completing the 70km course, but Clifford's chain came off at the worst possible moment, leaving him to cross the line ten seconds behind gold medallist Steffen Warias of Germany.
Bad luck Eoghan Clifford 5th place after chain came off on beginning of sprint finish. Colin Lynch 24th #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/wR22DDGeFH
— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) September 16, 2016
Clifford was part of a group of six riders to jump ahead in the early going and that pack crossed the first time check at 23.7km with a 24-second advantage over the nearest chasers.
The second circuit of the Pontal course saw the group whittled down to five, with Clifford looking strong near the front.
That group remained together and stayed clear during the final lap but as the quintet jostled for the final sprint finish, Clifford lost his chain with 200 metres remaining and could not contest the dash to the line.
"I'm very disappointed because I did everything right," the 36-year-old told RTÉ Sport.
"We had it whittled down to five and I was in a very good position for the sprint - I'm sure I would have had a medal of some sort - but my chain came off 200m from the line when I started my sprint.
"These things happen I guess. I did everything I could today. There was a lot of attacking but I was in there all the way. I felt good, I could have done a good sprint, it's hard to know now but that's life."
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It was a frustrating way for Clifford to bow out of Paralympic competition, as he revealed he would not be continuing on to Tokyo in four years' time.
"I have a lot of other commitments with work and family and it's been a really hectic year," he said. "That's not to say I won't race next year, but I think four years' time is probably a step too far for me."
Clifford praised team-mate Colin Lynch, Ireland's other rider in the race, whose early attack helped set the table for Clifford to launch the decisive breakaway, but the mixture of classifications in the 40-man field meant there were a host of competitors with lesser impairments, meaning the best he could do was 24th.
"My job to was to try and do something for Eoghan, so I jumped away really early and set up the break," Lynch said. "They came flying past me and after that I was just kind of done."
