Azerbaijan's sole entrant in the men's individual road cycling time trial has apologised for failing to finish the race after taking a wrong turn metres from the finishing line.

Elchin Asadov claimed that the course outline had been altered since his last training session earlier this week, which ultimately cost him in this afternoon's event.

Having veered off course the 28-year-old opted to pull out of the remainder, as one of two cyclists not to complete the race alongside Risto Raid of Estonia.

"I took the wrong road," he told reporters. "Two days ago I was training here and then the track was different. I thought the road would be the same as in training.

"I took a turn that was meant for journalists, not for the riders. But there was someone waving a flag on the road, so I thought this turn was for us. The road was a dead end. It was just bad luck.

"What can I say? Maybe it was something psychological, because we are on home soil. I am sorry for the people who believed in us. It was for the most part my own mistake."

Belarusian cyclist Vasil Kiryienka claimed gold in the time trial event, while silver and bronze went to Dutchman Stef Clement and Spain's Luis Leon Sanchez Gil respectively.