Tom Pidcock (centre) won gold. © APA/afp / EMMANUEL DUNAND

Pidcock's incredible comeback leads to Olympic gold

Mountain biker Tom Pidcock won the gold medal after catching up in the cross-country race at the Olympic Games in Paris.

July 29, 2024

From: apa

The Tokyo Olympic champion from Great Britain pulled off another coup on Monday despite a puncture. In a thrilling finish, top favorite Pidcock overtook French local hero Victor Koretzky with a tough maneuver, who had to settle for silver. Fourth place went to Italian Luca Braidot, who was 23 seconds behind the bronze medal of Alan Hatherly (South Africa).

Pidcock crossed the finish line after 35,2 km nine seconds ahead of Koretzky, and the world champion was booed by the French fans. The 24-year-old, who as a professional road cyclist only occasionally rides off-road and, like women's Olympic champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, is part of the Ineos team, triumphed after recently recovering from a corona infection.

Fourth place: Luca Braidot © APA/afp / EMMANUEL DUNAND

In the early stages of the race, Pidcock had to have his front tire changed in the two-man lead group and lost half a minute as a result. After catching up on the challenging course at the artificially created Colline d'Élancourt, which at 231 meters above sea level is the highest elevation in the Paris region, Pidcock went into the eighth and final lap together with Koretzky and Hatherly. In this lap, Pidcock attacked and there was slight contact with Koretzky.