Mountain biking is a self-discipline that was very well-remembered by Polish followers within the twenty first century due to the successes of Maja Włoszczowska. Our greatest bike owner in historical past gained Olympic silver on this competitors twice – in Beijing in 2008 and in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Three years in the past, in Tokyo, she took half within the Olympic race for the final time and got here twentieth. It was additionally the final official begin of our excellent athlete’s profession. Włoszczowska is at present in Paris as a member of the IOC Sports activities Fee, and on the identical time, she is cheering on our athletes.
In Sunday’s cross-country race, we noticed one consultant of Poland – Paula Gorycka. The 33-year-old took half within the London Video games in 2012, the place she got here twenty second, changing the injured Włoszczowska.
– Realistically talking, Paula has no probability of successful a medal, however these are the Olympic Video games and we’ve got a restricted group. I believe she has an opportunity of ending round fifteenth place – Maja Włoszczowska predicted on Eurosport.
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The Pole began with none main expectations, however Pauline Ferrand Prevot approached the Olympic competitors with a totally completely different angle – the favourite of the hosts, who has in her assortment all of the championship titles besides the Olympic gold medal. For the favourite of the French followers, essentially the most beneficial medal gained on dwelling soil could be a dream come true and the crowning achievement of a profession.
The 36-strong subject was lacking the defending champion from Tokyo, Swiss Jolanda Neff, who withdrew from the competitors as a consequence of well being issues.
Prevot began the third lap with a half-minute benefit over the chasing pair. Then the second dwelling rider started to really feel the pressure of the competitors. Pieters broke away from Lecomte and went in solitary pursuit of the race chief.
Lecomte was caught by different rivals on the fourth lap. Sadly, the Frenchwoman had a dangerous-looking crash and withdrew from the race. Dangerous luck additionally befell the vice-leader, who acquired a flat tire. The Dutchwoman needed to experience to the technical field close to the end line with a flat tire. The failure brought about a bunch of rivals to meet up with Pieters, who needed to say goodbye to her desires of a medal.
On this scenario, the combat for the remaining locations on the Olympic podium was between the American Haley Batten and the Swede Jenny Rissveds, as a result of the unchallenged Prevot was heading for the title of Olympic champion.
For the Frenchwoman, the ultimate lap was like a lap of honour. She rode a flawless race and celebrated her victory together with her followers on the end line. Batten crossed the end line 2 minutes and 58 seconds later, having damaged away from Rissveds within the ultimate kilometre.
The Swede, who gained the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, defeating Włoszczowska, returned to the Olympic podium after years of battling despair. The bronze medal tasted like gold to her.
Gorycka sadly didn’t end the race. The Pole was lapped by the main riders on the fifth lap and was compelled to go away the course. The same destiny befell a dozen or so different cyclists, which is why the Pole was finally categorised in twenty seventh place. The poor results of our consultant was influenced by a fall.
See additionally: Paris 2024: Australian with gold medal in girls’s time trial. Polish girls in second ten
The Polish champion did not wish to take any dangers. “I used to be going for broke”
