RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Rowers packed up their oars for the day while cyclists hit slippery roads on skinny time-trial bikes unsuited to harsh weather conditions as sun-drenched Rio turned blustery, wet and gray on Wednesday.
Strong winds rattled palm trees along the coast and whipped up waves on the scenic lagoon where rowing was canceled for a full day for the second time at the Rio Olympics.
Twenty-two races, including the first two medal races, were postponed but international rowing federation director Matt Smith said there’s still room on the schedule without having to resort to drastic measures – even if Thursday’s competition is also called off.
“If Friday morning at 10 o’clock we are sitting here, we may have to lose some races,” Smith said.
The regatta already lost a day to bad weather on Sunday, but race officials made up for it by rescheduling heats for Monday and Tuesday.