Longo-Ciprelli’s Cycle Complete

Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli, 37, of France, the world’s premier women’s road racer, capped her magnificent 18-year career with the Olympic gold medal that long had eluded her.

Longo-Ciprelli won the 64.8-mile rain-drenched road race in 2 hours 36 minutes 13 seconds--25 seconds ahead of silver medalist Imelda Chiappa of Italy. Canada’s Clara Hughes won the bronze in 2:36:44.

French President Jacques Chirac called to congratulate Longo-Ciprelli.

“He said I represented a lot for France,” Longo-Ciprelli said. It was France’s second gold in the first two days of competition.

Longo-Ciprelli, upset in Barcelona by Australia’s Kathryn Watt for the gold, is in her fourth Olympics.

American Jeanne Golay of Glenwood Springs, Colo., who had a spill on the first lap, finished with the pack in 29th (53 seconds behind), along with Linda Brenneman (36th) of Dana Point and Allison Dunlap (37th), of Colorado Springs.

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Spain’s Miguel Indurain will compete in the road race and time-trial despite poor form in this year’s Tour de France, sources close to his Banesto team said.

Indurain, 32, a five-time Tour winner, had told reporters Saturday he still had not made a decision about going to Atlanta.

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Medalists / Cycling

WOMEN’S ROAD RACE

Gold: Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli, France

Silver: Imelda Chiappa, Italy

Bronze: Clara Hughes, Canada