From defects to health problems and poor form on the day - all of these factors turned the men's race at the Olympic Games in Paris in a thrilling thriller with an open end - right up to the finish line.
Safe number: Gold medallist Tom Pidcock, 25, UK
Even though anything can happen in a high-calibre XCO race, one thing is certain: British all-rounder Tom Pidcock wins. Even in Paris, where a puncture in the middle of the race threw him far back into the midfield. The Brit was considered the favourite to win long before the Games. From the third round onwards, however, it seemed as if he would have to relinquish the role to Frenchman Victor Koretzky. Why? A flat tyre knocked him out of the leading position by over 40 seconds. Bad luck for Pidcock, great for the spectators: with rage in his stomach, Pidcock started an incredible chase to catch up until he had the leading Koretzky in his sights again. And when Koretzky didn't pay attention for a moment, Pidcock passed him on the inside.
Winner of the bronze medal: Alan Hatherly, 28, RSA
Also hotly tipped for a podium finish in the run-up to the event: world number one Hatherly. The bronze medal now marks the peak of his career.
Loser: Luca Schwarzbauer, 27, GER
The German Olympic hopeful is currently ranked fourth in the world. A top five finish was therefore within the realms of possibility in Paris. But on the decisive day, the Nürtingen native struggled with a skin rash. 16th place.
Winner: Mathias Flückiger, 35, SUI
What an example! Flückiger was innocently suspended for four months for doping in 2022. His fifth place in Paris makes it unmistakably clear: the Swiss rider has fully recovered from this setback.
Loser: Nino Schurter, 38, SUI
The GOAT (Greatest of all Time) Nino Schurter finished in tears in ninth place in what was probably his last Olympic race: "It just wasn't my day and I have to accept that the good days just don't come as often as they used to."
Loser: Victor Koretzky, 29, FRA
A tactical error on the last few metres of the final lap cost Victor Koretzky his dream of home Olympic gold. The 29-year-old chose the wrong line, leaving a gap for him to overtake, and Pidcock scurried through cleanly. Nevertheless, the French fans acknowledged Pidcock's daring but fair overtaking manoeuvre with boos after he crossed the finish line.
In the women's race there was a clear start-to-finish victory for France's Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Defects and a duel for the silver and bronze medal positions nevertheless made the race exciting.
Gold for eternity: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, FRA
What a finale! The seven-time XCO world champion ends her mountain bike career with Olympic gold in her home country. "Now it's time for new goals," the 32-year-old explained on the French sports website L'Équipe. In concrete terms, this means: Ferrand-Prévot wants to win the Tour de France 2025. Winner: Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, 32, FRA.
Spoilt by countless titles, not even a World Cup victory has been able to elicit any real emotion from the Frenchwoman recently. Now that Ferrand-Prévot had ticked off the last big to-do of her MTB career in Paris, the Frenchwoman finally dropped her poker face. In the picture, Haley Batten (USA) comforts the newly crowned Olympic champion. What many people don't know: Batten was almost stripped of her silver medal because she rode through the refreshment zone on the last lap without taking any food. However, as there is nothing about this in the rules, she got away with a 500 euro fine.
Loser: Candice Lill, 32, RSA
South Africa had high hopes for Candice Lill in the women's race. The 32-year-old only secured her first World Cup podium in Val di Sole in mid-June. However, her Olympic dream was literally shattered on the first lap when her rear wheel shattered in a stone field.
Loser: Puck Pieterse, 22, NL
For a long time, the co-favourite Pieterse had a solid lead in second place. A defective rear wheel cost her her chance of a medal on the fifth lap. In the end, the Dutchwoman still finished fourth - chapeau!
Winner: Jenny Rissveds, 30, SWE
After her Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016, the Swede retired from racing due to mental health problems. After taking some time out, she fought her way back to the top of the world rankings and in Paris it was enough for a thrilling duel with Haley Batten. In the end, she won the bronze medal.
Loser: Loana Lecomte, 24, FRA
Alongside her compatriot Ferrand-Prévot, Lecomte was considered one of the hottest contenders for the medals. The 24-year-old was in fourth place on the fourth lap, but crashed so badly in the heat of the moment that she had to end the race prematurely.
Winner: Nina Benz, 26, GER
Nina Benz was the only woman to fly the German flag at the mountain bike races in Paris. The fact that she was given this honour alone marks the highlight of her career to date. 16th place.
Loser: Alessandra Keller, 28, SUI
What a shame: the Swiss women won all the medals at the last Games in Tokyo. In Paris, the best Swiss woman and World Cup leader Alessandra Keller only managed seventh place.
Max Fuchs
Editor
