Paris 2024 Olympics cycling mountain bike: All results, as Tom Pidcock wins gold in men's cross-country
Tom Pidcock overcame a tire puncture to retain his Olympic title in a thrilling men’s cycling mountain bike cross country race in a time of 1:26:22 in the Paris suburb of Élancourt.
The world champion finished ahead of France's Victor Koretzky who crossed the line in 1:26:31, while Alan Hatherly became South Africa's first ever Olympic mountain bike medallist with a time of 1:26:33 to win bronze.
Koretzky led almost the entire race before losing the lead to Pidcock momentarily on the final lap. The French rider responded by dashing past Pidcock during a dramatic final lap that saw the pair almost collide on the rocky terrain.
Pidcock, who won this event at Tokyo 2020, overtook Koretzky in a daring final push as the two riders split either side of a tree and the British rider veered in front, never looking back.
Pidcock had earlier suffered a tire puncture, losing 34 seconds, but bounced back to become the first back-to-back gold medalist in cycling mountain bike men's cross country since 2008.
“This week, the bit leading up to the Olympics, so many things go through your head like emotions and scenarios. By the time you get on the start line, you're a bit knackered as it is,” Pidcock said.
“It was all going pretty well. I knew that Victor would be strong. I knew that it would not be easy today and then the puncture happened. I knew at that point I had almost five laps, that's almost 50 minutes so I thought 'anything's possible.'"
Hatherly held off Italian Luca Braidot down the final stretch to secure bronze, marking the first ever Olympic medal in mountain bike for any African NOC.
Cycling mountain bike: men's cross country podium
Gold: Thomas Pidcock, Team GB
Silver: Victor Koretzky, France
Bronze: Alan Hatherly, South Africa