Race too far for Le Tour champ Chris
So it proved as he finished well down the field after a chaotic start to his day.
Greg van Avermaet of Belgium won gold in the Olympic road race as Britain’s chances finished in the gutter.
Froome’s Team GB team-mate Geraint Thomas had been among a chase group with a chance of a medal at Copacabana, but tumbled to the road on the concluding descent with 10 kilometres to go of the 237.5km race.
He apparently slid into deep concrete drainage on the left side of the road.
Van Avermaet and Jakob Fuglsang bridged the gap to solo leader Rafal Majka in the final 2km, but the Pole could not contest the sprint as Van Avermaet won gold ahead of Denmark’s Fuglsang.
Three-time Tour de France winner Froome had labelled the road race a lottery, citing Spain’s Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali of Italy as clearer favourites.
And in truth Wednesday’s timetrial is Froome’s more controllable opportunity.
Thomas was in medal contention until his spill as – for the second straight Olympics, after Mark Cavendish’s 29th-placed finish on The Mall behind Alexandre Vinokourov four years ago – Britain experienced disappointment on the road on the opening day.
It was something of a phony war along the beautiful, but brutal, Rio coastline before the final full loop of the Vista Chinesa Circuit.
Nibali and his Italy team-mate Fabio Aru increased the pace on the descent, knowing there was one more climbing section to come.
Adam Yates and Thomas bridged the gap to join the Italians in an 11-rider group.
Yates lost contact at the start of the final ascent as Thomas followed Nibali.
Yates tried to help his leader, but Froome had to forge on with around 20km to go as Britain’s chances dwindled.
Thomas could not follow Nibali, who was joined by Sergio Henao of Colombia and Poland’s Majka.
Demon descender Nibali tumbled on the final descent, taking Henao with him, allowing Majka to forge on.
Thomas also fell and with him went British hopes of a medal.
Majka came agonisingly close to a solo victory, but Van Avermaet and Fuglsang worked together to reel him in and the Belgian prevailed.
Froome’s day did not begin as planned. He was unaware his name was being called over the public address system prior to the start at Copacabana beach.
Riders must sign in before races, but Froome had forgotten until being prompted when BBC reporter Natalie Pirks shouted over the barrier.
Then Froome required a bike change with around 100km remaining. Coach Rod Ellingworth helped him make the change and Thomas escorted him back to the main bunch.
It may have been planned, given the change took place after the riders had completed four laps of the Grumari Circuit, which included a cobbled section.
Froome’s Team Sky squad have specific bike set-ups for cobbles and the British team may have done the same.
Ian Stannard’s work had been done by then and Steve Cummings soon followed in slowing to a near standstill.
And thereafter the plan was torn up as the race ignited on the final full circuit, before the final ascent and descent to the finish where Thomas was undone.
Froome could yet emulate Sir Bradley Wiggins, who is the only Tour winner to win Olympic gold in the same year, by upgrading his bronze behind his compatriot four years ago in Wednesday’s time-trial.
Meanwhile in the pool, Adam Peaty fired out a major warning to his Olympic rivals in Rio by breaking his own 100 metres breaststroke world record in the heats on Saturday.
The 21-year-old, hotly fancied to become Britain’s first male Olympic champion in swimming since Adrian Moorhouse in 1988, came home in 57.55 seconds.