Grace Brown wrapped up her professional career in style today, winning the Chrono des Nations in Les Herbiers with a commanding performance. The Australian world and Olympic champion completed the 27.23-kilometre course in 35 minutes and 26 seconds, outpacing her nearest rival, teammate Vittoria Guazzini, by 51 seconds.
Riding in her world champion’s skinsuit and gold aero helmet, Brown’s victory was never in doubt. She pulled ahead early, holding a 28-second lead at the first checkpoint, 10 kilometres into the course. By the finish, Brown had stretched that margin even further, securing a fitting farewell to her career.
Speaking after the race, Brown said, “It couldn’t have been a better ending,” reflecting on her last race in professional cycling.
Guazzini, the former under-23 world time trial champion, claimed second place, while Austria’s Anna Kiesenhofer finished third, 54 seconds off the winning pace. Kiesenhofer, an Olympic road race champion, put in a strong ride but couldn’t match Brown’s form on the day.
The course, shared with the junior categories, featured a flat lap of just over 27 kilometres with a key intermediate time check at Saint-Paul-en-Pereds, 10 kilometres into the race. Despite strong performances from her rivals, Brown’s dominant time at this point signalled the end result. Only an accident or mechanical failure seemed capable of stopping her.
Photo Credit: Mathilde L'AzouHaving already won the Australian time trial championship, this year’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, two stages and the overall title in the Bretagne Ladies Tour, Brown’s victory today added yet another achievement to her stellar season. This win came after her gold medal in the individual time trial at the Paris Olympics and her triumph in the UCI World Championships time trial.
Brown’s final professional season has been one of remarkable consistency and success. Today’s win was the final flourish of a career that will be remembered for its glittering results across both World Championships and the Olympic Games. The 32-year-old retires having left an indelible mark on the world of professional cycling and will be taking up a position as President of The Cyclists’ Alliance.
2024 Women’s Chrono des Nations result
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