Grace Brown of Australia clinched gold in the women’s Olympic time trial on Saturday, navigating the wet and treacherous streets of Paris with precision. Her time of 39 minutes, 38.24 seconds secured her a dominant victory in the first cycling event of the Summer Games.
Anna Henderson of Britain finished 1 minute 31 seconds behind in second place, while American favourite Chloe Dygert, despite crashing on a left-hand turn, managed to claim the bronze medal.
Dygert, the reigning time trial world champion, had been pushing hard when she lost control on a cobbled section. Reflecting on her race, she said, “I’m very grateful to have finished. Many riders fell today in tough conditions, but that’s how cycling goes. I love these conditions, with the cooler temperature and less smooth roads. Every time trial is different and mindset plays a big role.”
Juliette Labous of France, cheered on by the home crowd, narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth. Demi Vollering was fifth for the Netherlands, who had previously claimed gold and bronze in the time trial at the Tokyo Games.
The race began with riders setting off at 90-second intervals from Les Invalides, crossing the River Seine and passing iconic landmarks such as the Place de la Bastille. The course paid homage to French cycling legends, with loops through Bois de Vincennes park and past Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil. However, it was the hazardous conditions that became the focal point.
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig of Denmark and American Taylor Knibb were among several riders who crashed on the slippery roads. Knibb’s support crew member even fell while trying to assist with a bike change.
Brown, who has declared this her final season of competitive cycling, was the penultimate rider to start and quickly set a commanding pace. She extended her lead through each checkpoint, while Dygert struggled to stay close, ultimately losing time after her crash.
Ellen van Dijk of the Netherlands, a three-time world champion, finished 11th. Her preparation was hampered by a fractured ankle that required surgery just six weeks prior. “It was a decent day but not what I hoped for. I was cautious in the rain, which cost me time in the corners,” Van Dijk said. “I never really got into a rhythm, but I kept fighting to the finish.”
Kim Cadzow of New Zealand set the fastest early time, clocking 41:46.02. She held the hot seat for a considerable period until the favourites took to the course.
Photo Credit: AP NewsHenderson expressed her disbelief at winning silver, saying, “I still can’t believe it. Beforehand, I secretly felt I could make the podium, but to finish second after someone like Brown is incredible.” She added, “On the road, I focused on my speed on the straights. The slippery corners were risky, so it was important to be careful. That’s where you could lose the race.”
For Brown, it was a flawless execution of her race plan. “I had a plan to win the time trial,” she said. “I executed it to perfection. The rain didn’t affect my morale. I know how to take corners slower and ride more conservatively, which everyone did.”
The women’s time trial marked the first time both women and men covered the same distance in an Olympic time trial, a 32.4-kilometre route that ended with a sprint finish to the Pont Alexandre III bridge. With the time trial behind them, riders now turn their attention to the road race next week.
2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Individual Time Trial
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: AusCycling
