Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 5:55 PM
Discussion The Olympic Games in Paris are over. For two weeks, cyclists from all over the world competed for medals. The Netherlands ultimately won seven medals in cycling, Belgium five. What was your highlight of the Games? Join the discussion!
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On the first day of the Olympic Games, cycling fans were immediately invited to sit in front of their televisions for the time trial. An unleashed Grace Brown blew everyone and everything away. The Australian won with a lead of more than a minute and a half. The men’s race became more exciting. Remco Evenepoel eventually set the fastest time. The young Belgian defeated Filippo Ganna and compatriot Wout van Aert.
It was not Evenepoel’s last triumph, because a week later he was in action again. This time in the road race. Evenepoel himself opened the final at a considerable distance from the finish, but then waited a bit to see what would happen. He waited for his moment, and then struck mercilessly. With a scorching demarrage he rode up to the leaders in no time, leaving them behind one by one. The Belgian rider rode solo to a historic Olympic double.
Evenepoel at his triumph – photo: Cor Vos
In the women’s road race we saw an exciting battle. Marianne Vos seemed to be going to fight it out with the Hungarian Blanka Vas for a long time, but in the final phase they were joined by Lotte Kopecky and Kristen Faulkner. It did not become a sprint with four, because Faulkner chose the perfect moment to ride away. Vos, Vas and Kopecky did not react, the bird had flown. Vos did sprint to silver. In this way, twelve years after her gold medal in London, she ended up on the podium at the Games again.
The road cycling was over. However, cycling fans could continue to enjoy themselves, because on Monday they got to see a thrilling battle in mountain biking. Tom Pidcock was well on his way to gold, but had to deal with a flat tire. After a long catch-up race, he fought a battle against home rider Victor Koretzky. That was an absolute nail-biter, which Pidcock was eventually able to pull towards him.
The relief at Pidcock was enormous – photo: Cor Vos
The last days of the Games were dominated by track cycling. For the Dutch, this was a big party. The Netherlands managed to win no less than five medals in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Harrie Lavreysen was the big winner with three gold medals. De Lichtflits from Luyksgestel won the team sprint – together with Roy van den Berg and Jeffrey Hoogland -, the sprint and the keirin. An Olympic trilogy to be proud of.
What was your favorite moment of the Olympics? Join the discussion!