Paris Olympics Road Races - Global Riders to Watch
Eight riders from around the world to look our for as the Olympic Games road races take place over the weekend
The Olympic Games provides a golden opportunity for riders from smaller nations to compete in a massive event and present themselves to the world. With more than 50 nations competing in both the women’s and men’s road races, there is plenty of hidden talent ready to emerge.
Here are (1)8 riders I’ll be looking out for from smaller nations at the men’s and women’s Olympic Games road races this weekend.
Kim Le Court
Mauritius
This course suits classics rider Le Court perfectly. She is a genuine outsider for a medal here.
Le Court has had an outstanding comeback season, with a number of top placings throughout the spring topped off with her first WorldTour win on the final stage of the Giro d’Italia Women a few weeks ago. Le Court is high on confidence and in flying form. As we saw in the Giro, she can infiltrate a move and has a fast kick - dangerous attributes in this race. This race is a big target for Le Court before a likely debut at the Tour de France Femmes.
Read more: 'I have no words'- Mauritius' Kim Le Court makes her dream a reality at Giro d'Italia Women
Eric Fagundez
Uruguay
Uruguay are quickly becoming South America’s third major cycling nation, alongside Colombia and Ecuador. They now have two professionals in Europe and both are on the rise.
25 year old Fagundez has had his best season to date in 2024, posting a fourth at the Tour du Doubs, third overall at the Vuelta a Asturias in April and two stage wins at the recent Tour of Qinghai Lake. He’s a pure climber, so the course in Paris is not ideal for him, but expect Fagundez to be aggressive early and try to get into a move.
Eyeru Tesfoam
Olympic Refugee Team
Ethiopian-born Eyeru Tesfoam lives in France now and races with UCI Women’s squad Team Komugi-Grand Est. Tesfoam has an inspirational story and will represent the world’s 100 million+ refugees in the women’s road race.
She is a gifted climber, and is really finding her feet in the European peloton this year after missing two years of her career.
Charles Kagimu
Uganda
The two-time African Continental Time Trial champion is a rider with a big engine and big potential. The 25 year old has been able to grow his European experience this season with a couple of months racing with the new Ride United team in the Netherlands. His best placing there was 10th at a local race Wielerronde van 't Zand.
Kagimu was honoured as one of Uganda’s flag bearer’s during the opening ceremony. This race is a big step up for him and the aim will be to get as far as he can. Keep an eye out for his Ineos Grenadiers bike and other equipment…
Fariba Hashimi
Afghanistan
Hashimi’s older sister, Yulduz, put in a strong performance in the time last week, finishing 26th in some good company. However, Fariba looks like an even more exciting prospect at just 21 years old.
The pair are based in Switzerland with the UCI World Cycling Centre and have spent the season so far racing some high level events around Europe. Hashimi has surprised many with her results, including 10th overall at the Giro Mediterraneo in Rosa with top-5s in both mountain stages at that race.
The potential ceiling is high for the younger Hashimi. This will be her highest profile race yet, a great opportunity to grow in experience.
Xianjing Lyu
China
Could this rider be in the WorldTour next year I wonder? With Astana Qazaqstan being taken on by Chinese investors, Lyu is the most eligible of all the Chinese riders to make that step up.
This course profile is perfect for Lyu, but the standard is astronomical compared to the level he has been racing at for the last two seasons. Earlier in the year, his team’s DS Lionel Marie told me that the goal is to finish this race. "It looks easy, but it's not easy at all," Marie said.
Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir
Malaysia
26 year old Zubir has been emerging as one of the top women on the Asia circuit over the last couple of years, with several top GC placings in races such as the Tour of Thailand and Biwase Cup.
In preparation for her first Olympics, Zubir has been racing in Europe since the end of May and has put in some very impressive performances. These include a second place at Zottegem-Strijpen in July, surrounded by UCI team riders and a few WorldTour riders too. She looks like a rider who could do well if given the chance in a European UCI team.
Yacine Hamza
Algeria
After matching Tadej Pogačar last season on number of UCI wins, Yacine Hamza has had a slightly slower season so far in 2024. He’s had just five wins so far this year, all using his extremely fast bunch kick.
Hamza joined the brand new Algerian continental squad Team Madar at the start of this season, giving him and other talented Algerians chances to race some higher level events. He’s recently competed in the SD WORX BW Classic in Belgium and the Kreiz Breizh Elites, taking a couple of solid if unspectacular results. It will take some time for the fastest man in Africa to adjust to the European peloton.
Read more: Yacine Hamza: 17 UCI wins and no pro contract
In the interest of keeping things relatively brief, here’s ten more riders that I’ll be keeping a close eye on during the races this weekend:
Thanakhan Chaiyasombat - Thailand
Safia Al Sayegh - UAE
Thi That Nguyen - Vietnam
Franklin Archbold - Panama
Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye - Nigeria
Chris Rougier-Lagane - Mauritius
Awa Bamogo - Burkina Faso
Eri Yonamine - Japan
Jambaljamts Sainbayar - Mongolia
Achraf Ed Doghmy - Morocco
Who are you excited to see in the road races this weekend?
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