Paris Olympics 2024: USA's Kristen Faulkner clinches gold in women's road race cycling

Kristen Faulkner ends forty year gold medal drought in the event for USA.

The women’s road race of the Paris Olympics 2024 brought a historic victory for Kristen Faulkner (USA), the first American winner since Connie Carpenter was crowned at Los Angeles 1984, the first time the women’s event was held.

Kristen Faulkner eventually distanced Marianne Vos (the Netherlands), Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Blanka Vas (Hungary), her three rivals in an intense finale. The three stars sprinted for the silver and bronze medals, with Vos finishing 2nd and Kopecky rounding out the podium.

On the day after Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) was crowned in the men’s race, 92 riders representing 56 nations started from the Trocadéro and headed west, towards Versailles and the first challenges of the day. The initial loop led them back to Paris, where they faced three laps around the Butte Montmartre, with massive crowds to cheer on them.

Awa Bamogo (Burkina Faso) launched the first attack, ahead of more attempts from Nora Jenčušová (Slovakia), sisters Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi (Afghanistan), Rotem Gafinovitz (Israel), Thi Thât Nguyễn (Vietnam), Hanna Tserakh (AIN), Olga Zabelinskaya (UZB). Dutch riders set the pace in the bunch before the Parisian circuit turned the race upside down.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Remco Evenepoel brings glory to Belgium with gold in men’s road race

With three riders – Lizzie Deignan, Pfeiffer Georgi and Anna Henderson – in a star-studded 12-woman lead group, Great Britain took the helm while Demi Vollering (NED) pulled the chase group to try to bring Lorena Wiebes back to the front. Fortunately, the Oranje already had an option at the front.

Marianne Vos and Blanka Vas set off with 22km remaining. The duo saw Kristen Faulkner and Lotte Kopecky bridge the gap with only 3.5km to go after a thrilling chase. The American Champion immediately attacked and went solo to the Olympic Games gold medal.

“I took a really big risk a few years ago (putting a career on hold to concentrate on cycling). It’s a dream come true,” said new Olympic Champion Kirsten Faulkner. “I had high hopes. I’m racing team pursuit in two days and said I’d only race this if I knew I could go for a medal. I knew Kopecky wanted to catch the front too. And I knew that my only chance to win would be to attack. I practised my late attack this week.”

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