In an enthralling display at the Olympics, Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel secured the gold medal for the men’s road race, making him the first male cyclist to achieve a double win, having also won the time trial. Minutes from the finish line and with less than four kilometres left, a mechanical issue led Evenepoel to signal for assistance at Carousel du Louvre in a frantic scenario. However, his team promptly provided a replacement bike, allowing the Belgian star to resume the race quickly.
Remco made a decisive move 15 kilometres from the finish and displayed his power in a gruelling ascent of the Butte Montmartre, the second in a series of three strenuous climbs. French racer Valentin Madouas, lingering 1:15 behind during Evenepoel’s mishap, demonstrated commendable resilience to capture silver, covering a distance of 273km. France’s Christophe Laporte also performed impressively bagging the bronze.
As Evenepoel approached the finish line, he raised his arm again, this time, not for assistance, but in pre-celebration of his impending victory. He posed for a victory snapshot with the Eiffel Tower providing a fitting background, stepping off his bike at the finish line.
Ireland’s Ben Healy, who led a significant part of the race, demonstrated fantastic performance, yet split from the lead group when Evenepoel closed the gap in the circuits of Paris, finishing tenth overall despite a valiant effort. Another participant, Ryan Mullen, finished 60th. A comprehensive report will be released shortly.