Remco Evenepoel survives last-gasp puncture to claim brilliant road cycling double

PARIS – Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel had a heart-in-mouth moment as he claimed gold in the Olympic men’s road race on Aug 3 and became the first male rider to achieve the double at the same Games after also winning the time trial.

Dutch cyclist Leontien Zijlaard completed the women’s double at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Evenepoel suffered a puncture less than 4km from the finish, in front of the Louvre, raising his arm for assistance before clapping and waving at his team to deliver a new bike in a scene of sheer panic.

With race radio communication banned at the Games, the 24-year-old, who was cruising to victory, only had information on his time advantage from the motorbike showing the gaps on a blackboard.

“It showed it was 25 seconds, so I thought the (chasing) group would go past me but it turns out it was incorrect,” Evenepoel told a press conference.

Official timings showed he was 1min 15sec ahead of Frenchman Valentin Madouas when the incident occurred. The Belgian’s brutal attack to victory in 6hr 19min 34sec after a swift change left him gasping for air, but 1:11 ahead of Madouas at the end of the 273km race.

Christophe Laporte won a small group sprint five seconds behind to take the bronze as France grabbed their first medals in the men’s Olympic road race since Melbourne 1956.

It was one of the most spectacular races the sport has ever seen, with delirious fans lining the road in one of the few Olympic sports that spectators can attend for free. Organisers told Reuters 500,000 attended across the day.

Evenepoel raised his arm again in the final kilometre but, this time, it was a pre-celebration before stepping off his bike as he crossed the line for a photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

“What a place to win this. Honestly, I feel sick. So proud to win this and to be the first ever to double it, history, no?,” said a beaming Evenepoel, who finished third overall in the Tour de France in July.

“You are never sure enough. I felt that Madouas’ legs were getting empty and I knew the kicker where I dropped him was a kicker that really suited me. It was just pushing, pushing, pushing to the line.

“I really feel sick from the effort, especially with the stressy moment with 4km to go, I got a straight puncture. I had to change bike, bit of stress but I had time enough.”

Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, one of the pre-race favourites, made a move on the steepest part of the Rue Lepic but could not open a decisive gap and ended up a disappointing 12th.

“When Remco went, I knew it was a really dangerous moment. I’m happy for him,” said van der Poel.

It was another memorable day for France, who have been delighting the home crowd with top-notch performances at the Games and, although they were not among the favourites, Madouas and Laporte delivered.

“(Coach) Thomas (Voeckler) said to me yesterday: ‘Get a head start, it’ll take you a long way’. I put in an attack and we went out. I was waiting for the champions to come back and I had to stay on Remco’s wheel as long as possible,” said Madouas.

“He was a cut above the rest, even though I could see him in the distance in the finale. To come second here in Paris, in a setting like this, I have nothing to say.” REUTERS, AFP