Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel triumphed in the men’s individual time trial at the Paris Olympic Games to take gold with a perfect performance, stamping his authority on the race of truth.
The World Champion was the fastest at every checkpoint throughout the 32.4km course, as he took his first-ever Olympic gold medal in a time of 36:12 on the wet slippery roads with an average speed of 53.7kph. At the first intermediate time check, Evenepoel had seven seconds on Filippo Ganna (Italy) and ten seconds on Wout van Aert (Belgium) who was racing with double-disk wheels.
By the second time check, Evenepoel held a consistent lead, while Van Aert had slotted into second place as Ganna lost a few seconds after almost crashing on a wet corner. Evenepoel pushed all the way to the finish line at Pont Alexandre III, to beat Ganna by 15 seconds.
Van Aert took third, 25 seconds off the winning pace. Josh Tarling (Great Britain) likely would have been on the podium and fighting for the win, had he not suffered a front wheel puncture early in the race, eventually finishing fourth, two seconds off Van Aert and 27 from Evenepoel.
Evenepoel could not pinpoint what made the difference between him and his competitors.
“I have no idea, because in the corners, I didn't risk it at 100%, I think I didn't go slow, but in the end, I also didn't go super fast, and I just pushed that out on the straights always. I don't know where I made the biggest difference.
“I had the time gaps that it was not super clear. It was only clear in the last kilometer that I was probably going to win because I had more than a minute and a half to do. So from there, I knew that it was going to be enough. But, yeah, I don't know. I didn't watch the television, so you guys should know, but I made a big achievement. It doesn't matter. Winning is winning. So just super happy.
"It means a lot [compared to world title]. It's every four years that we get a chance to win this one. So it was the last championship that I could achieve in my career in the time trial aspect. So I think that list is boxed off, let's say, but it's just incredible to be able to win this after already amazing Tour. And yeah, beating two legends in cycling is crazy and amazing. And for me, it was a big question mark. How I was going to start today and I found the good legs on the right moment. So it's one of the most beautiful moments in my life and career, for sure."
How it unfolded
Rain and slippery wet roads made a technical course trickier for the 34 men racing for gold in the individual time trial at the 2024 Olympic Games. Great Britain’s Ethan Hayter pulled out of the time trial on Friday to focus on next week’s track racing while 2021 men’s gold medalist Primož Roglič (Slovenia) is not competing in Paris.
Amir Ansari (Olympic Refugee Team) was the first rider off the start ramp to face the 32.4-kilometre flat course from Invalides to the Alexander III bridge in Paris.
Second rider to start, Slovenia’s Jan Tratnik, who took a bike change due to a mechanical, set the first fastest time of 39:38. But, faster times from Alberto Bettiol (Italy) and Ryan Mullen (Ireland) and then Mathias Vacek (Czech Republic) took over the hot seat with the big names still to come.
The drama continued to unfold on the icy wet roads of Paris with Magnus Sheffield (USA) racing with ripped kit from a crash, while pre-race favourite Josh Tarling (Great Britain) suffered a front wheel puncture and had to get a bike change before the first time check.
Belgium’s Van Aert, racing with double disks, clocked the fastest time at T1 with Luke Plapp (Australia) only a second behind as the last rider to start Evenepoel had just started. Tarling was less than four seconds from van Aert on the 13km time check after he had his mishap, and lost three more seconds at the second time check.
Evenepoel showed that he was the man to beat, with seven seconds on Italy’s Filipo Ganna, and 10 seconds on Van Aert after the first time check.
Van Aert sprinted for the line posting a very challenging time for his competitors with a time of 36:37, the first rider to go under 37 minutes.
All eyes were on the final two riders on course, Evenepoel and Ganna. Evenepoel continued to set the fastest pace at the second intermediate time check, 11 seconds faster than Van Aert. Ganna, almost crashed on a slippery corner, and lost some time, putting him in third place at T2.
Tarling, who had a great ride to recover from his puncture, finished 2 seconds from Van Aert’s pace, to slot into second place with Ganna and Evenepoel still on the road.
Ganna gained the time lost in the final third of the course, crossing the line in a time of 36:27, ten seconds faster than Van Aert, ensuring a medal for both with only Evenepoel left to finish.
The Belgian came around the final corner and knew he had it wrapped up, even allowing himself to celebrate with a huge roar when he looked up at his time and saw his split was still in the green.
Results
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