Tom Pidcock recovers from puncture to successfully defend Olympic title

Cycling Mountain Bike 29 Jul 24

Tom Pidcock recovered from a puncture to successfully defend his Olympic mountain bike cross-country title in a nail-biting final lap.

The Yorkshireman stormed into the lead early on but fell back into the field after suffering a puncture with four laps remaining, a whole 36 seconds behind new leader and French favourite Victor Koretzky.

But in classic Pidcock fashion, the 24-year-old soared from eighth place back to first, squeezing past Koretzky on a tight corner on the final lap to clinch his second Olympic gold.

"The Olympics is so special and you need to never give up," said an emotional Pidcock after the race.

"This week and in the lead up the Olympics, so many things run through your head.

"All emotions and scenarios happen and by the time you get on the start line you're a bit knackered as it is.

"It was all going pretty well and I knew that Victor would be strong and it would not be easy today and then the puncture happened.

"We weren't ready in the pits but had a fast change and I knew at that point that I had five laps and thought anything was possible."

Pidcock's preparation for Paris 2024 was hindered by a bout of Covid just weeks out from the Games.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider was forced to pull out of the Tour de France to rest but was back on the bike and raring for his second Olympics for Team GB.

Pidcock, who turns 25 tomorrow, brushed off the cobwebs with a glittering gold, pipping Koretzky in a tasty wheel to wheel battle in the closing stages that saw the Team GB rider come out on top on the final downhill.

"I was coming really fast back to Victor but I couldn't get rid of him and I knew how fast he was on the last lap," he said.

"In the end, I just had to go for a gab and 'rubbings racing' is what I've always done and the Olympics is not different.

"I'm sorry for him, the support for him was incredible but it's the Olympics so you've got to go all in."

Pidcock will return for Team GB in the men's road race on 3 August.

Sportsbeat 2024

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