Summer Olympics 2024 Paris: Faulkner powers to gold with late attack

foto: Cor VosMarianne Vos and Blanka Vas reach the summit of the last climb 6 seconds ahead of Lotte Kopecky and Kristen Faulkner. The two groups come together within the last 3.4 kilometres. Then the American kicks again. She solos to the gold medal, while Vos takes silver and Kopecky bronze. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results road race Summer Olympics 2024

1. Kristen Faulkner (usa)
2. Marianne Vos (nld) + 0.58
3. Lotte Kopecky (bel) s.t.
4. Blanka Vas (hun) s.t.
5. Pfeiffer Georgi (gbr) + 1.21
6. Mavi García (spa) + 1.23
7. Noemi Rüegg (swi) + 2.04
8. Kasia Niewiadoma (pol) + 2.44
9. Elisa Longo Borghini (ita) + 3.05
10. Marta Lach (pol) + 3.27

Race report
Awa Bamogo is the first attacker. She rides to a lead of almost 1 minute before being caught on the first climb of the day.

The next attack is by Nora Jencusová. She opens a gap of 4 minutes before Hanna Tserakh, Thị Thật Nguyen, Rotem Gafinovitz, Fariba Hashimi, and Yulduz Hashimi bridge across in a chase of tens of kilometres. With six, the attackers add 2 more minutes to their lead.

On the last climb before returning to Paris, Côte du Pavé des Gardes, Hanna Tserakh and Fariba Hashimi are the only remaining attackers.

The two are caught the first time up the cobbles of the Butte Montmartre. A crash of Chloé Dygert hinders several pre-race favourites, and a group with Marianne Vos, Elisa Long Borghini, Noemi Rüegg, Elizabeth Deignan, Pfeiffer Georgi, Anna Henderson, Kristen Faulkner, Mavi García, Liane Lippert, Marta Lach, and Blanka Vas reach the summit together. Lotte Kopecky restores contact within the last 42 kilometres.

Deignan and Henderson are dropped on the second Butte Montmartre ascent. Lach suffers a mechanical.

As the pace drops at the front, Deignan and Henderson are able to return. The first is launched by the latter before Vas and Vos bridge across. The two V’s push on together to tackle the Butte Montmartre 30 seconds ahead of the chasers.

Faulkner and Kopecky reach the summit 6 seconds behind Vos and Vas, after which a regroupment happens within the last 3.4 kilometres. Moments later, on the banks of the Seine, Faulkner accelerates. Vas nearly closes the gap, but when no one gives the final push, the American is gone. She solos to gold, while Vos, Vas, and Kopecky prepare for the sprint.

In a close finish, Vos takes silver and Kopecky bronze.

Other interesting reads: route and start list road race Summer Olympics, Paris 2024.