Across the equator, Germany was winning the World Cup in Brazil, beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in Rio.
And two continents north and four time zones west, the country had already topped the podium at the 2014 Tour de White Rock, the finale to BC Superweek. German Florenz Knauer finished first, beating Team Columbia's Sebastian Molano and Canadian Garrett McLeod, who finished third.
McLeod, from Wolfville, Nova Scotia, was racing for Team H&R Block. Victoria's Bailey McKnight finished in ninth, and was the top British Columbian in the field.
Another German, Alexander Grad, finished fourth.
But B.C. dominated the women's race, with Abbotsford's Alison Jackson finishing first in the White Rock race, ahead of Danise Ramsden (Vancouver). Maria Luisa Calle (Team Columbia) finished in third place, ahead of two other British Columbians – Megan Rathwell (4th) and Anika Todd, both from Victoria.
Video: Kolby Solinsky, Black Press