Paris Olympics - My top 3 moments from the road races and time-trials
Refugees representing millions, a truly diverse breakaway and two sisters breaking barriers
The road cycling at Paris 2024 has been truly magnificent. We’ve had Grace Brown taking a career defining gold in the women’s TT, Remco Evenepoel’s brilliance to become the first man ever to do the double and a shock Kirsten Faulkner gold in the women’s road race.
Alongside the main storylines, riders from smaller nations took to the biggest sporting stage of all. It was a rare opportunity for many of these riders to show what they could do in elevated company. For others, racing at the Olympics meant so much more than cycling.
Here are my top three moments from the road cycling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
A truly global breakaway
For more than half of Saturdays 272km men’s event, the race was fronted by riders from Thailand, Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco and Mauritius.
It was a testament of the Olympic spirit as these riders, from nations rarely seen in the spotlight, were the centre of attention. Thanakhan Chaiyasombat, Eric Manizabayo, Charles Kagimu, Achraf Ed Doghmy and Chris Rougier-Lagane each put in valiant rides. They were joined off the front of the bunch later on by Mongolia’s Jambaljamts Sainbayar, too.
Kagimu was the longest standing of the breakaway boys, out front for more than 190km. He was also the only one to finish, coming 77th place. All of this after spending the previous Saturday in bed with the flu. What a ride from the two-time African Continental TT champion.
To me, it was a beautiful moment. A glimpse of how this sport could look in the future if it opens up and invests more heavily in Africa and Asia. It was all the more sweet for me personally as Rougier-Lagane and Chaiyasombat are both previous contributors to Global Peloton.
The Hashimi sisters on the big stage
Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi made history as the first Afghan women to represent their nation at the Olympic Games in cycling.
The sisters didn’t just make up the numbers, they both impressed hugely. First, Yulduz raced the TT, placing a solid 26th ahead of several WWT riders, just 19 seconds slower than Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig.
Fariba, the younger of the two with the more impressive results on the road this year, had an excellent road race. With around 125km to go, Fariba attacked to bridge to the lone leader, taking a few with her, including sister Yulduz. The group made it up to the front and formed the break of the day. As they got onto the finishing circuits, Fariba attacked again, taking Hannah Tserakh with her. Fariba later dropped Tserakh, making her the last one standing from the break. She finished the race in 75th place.
It was a breakthrough performance from the 21 year old. Her ceiling is very high. I would be shocked if a WorldTour team doesn’t pick up this talented youngster.
Refugees representing millions
Two riders at the Games had longer journeys than most to get there. Eyeru Tesfoam and Amir Ansari both represented the Olympic Refugee Team; Tesfoam in the women’s road race, Ansari in the men’s time trial. The Olympic Refugee Team represents the more than 120 million people who are displaced globally.
Ansari was first off in the men’s TT. As a full-time student in his adopted home of Sweden, Ansari only had a few weeks to fully concentrate on his Olympic effort. The 24 year old did brilliantly, placing 30th, 4:14 down on winner Remco Evenepoel.
Tesfoam had a quiet road race and was unable to finish. More importantly than that, she represented the world’s refugees and her home region of Tigray.
What was your favourite moment from the road races and time trials?
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I was awestruck by the Hashimi sisters’ performances, considering what they’ve had to endure to get to this place. However, I was upset by the Canadian coverage of the race, which gave no mention of the context of their performance, simply that they were Afghan. This coverage obfuscated the Taliban’s reign of terror against women and helps legitimize the regime, when by any rational standard they should be a pariah state.
I don’t understand the ins and outs of the criteria for competing as Refugee athletes, but the politics surrounding the Olympics and State representation are hugely problematic. Which of course is news to no one.
Agreed however - thrilling race with a deserving winner
The last 10K of the Women's Road Race. Some of the most edge of the seat racing I have ever seen. With small groups up-front constantly changing it was difficult to identify who would be the overall winner.