U.S. cyclist Phinney makes it back from injury and has two medal opportunities in Rio

Two years ago, Taylor Phinney’s cycling career looked bleak.

A career-threatening crash during the 2014 United States National Road Race Championships resulted in a compound fracture to his tibia and severed patellar tendon.

After a year of recovery and slow reintroduction to competition, Phinney now has two medal opportunities at the Rio Olympics, starting with Saturday morning’s road race.

Phinney, along with Brent Bookwalter, will represent the United States in a 144-cyclist field as they attempt to bike through a 241.5-kilometer course that starts in Fort Copacabana.

Phinney competed in both the time trial and road race during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, placing fourth in both events. He also placed seventh in the individual pursuit at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 6:23 PM with the headline "U.S. cyclist Phinney makes it back from injury and has two medal opportunities in Rio."