Mountain bike: Delight for France as Pauline Ferrand-Prevot claims dominant Paris 2024 women’s cross-country gold

France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot dominated the women’s mountain bike cross-country race to claim a memorable gold in front of a raucous crowd at Elancourt Hill on 28 July.

The French rider has tasted more than her fair share of heartbreak at the Olympics, having finished 10th at Tokyo 2020 and recorded a DNF at Rio 2016.

But with the French crowd roaring her every step of the way, the five-time world champion moved to the front early and dominated the seven-lap race, crossing the line in 1:26:02 for a famous victory on home soil.

"I’m struggling to realise," an elated Ferrand-Prevot said after the race. "I had a perfect race and a perfect preparation."

Second place and the silver medal went to Haley Batten of the USA in 1:28:59 with Rio 2016 champion Jenny Rissveds of Sweden claiming bronze in 1:29:04.

Ferrand-Prevot didn’t so much clinch this victory, she tore it from the hands of her competitors, setting an unmatchable pace under sunny skies at a venue that sits at the highest point in the Paris region.

Two riders, Netherlands’ Puck Pieterse and France’s Loana Lecomte, attempted to follow and both suffered a cruel fate in a race in which they looked to be heading towards the podium. A puncture scuppered Pieterse’s podium chances while Lecomte crashed as she battled hard to make it a French 1-2.

However, there would be no such drama this time around for Ferrand-Prevot, whose strength, speed and dogged determination saw her banish the ghosts of past Games to take an unforgettable gold.

As she hoisted her bike across her head, the crowd belted out a loud rendition of "La Marseillaise”. It was an emotional salute to an athlete who has seen the highs and lows of her sport but produced the performance of a lifetime at Paris 2024.

“I said, 'No, it’s not possible, it’s not for me, it’s a dream,'" continued Ferrand-Prevot, as she tried to find the words to express just what this victory meant to her. "After that, I was just so happy to see my parents. It’s a great feeling but to be honest, I don’t realise yet, so I even don’t know what to say.”

Mountain bike: Women's cross-country podium

Gold: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (France)

Silver: Haley Batten (USA)

Bronze: Jenny Rissveds (Sweden)