Haley Batten surged past Rio gold medalist Jenny Rissveds on the last lap, securing the US its highest-ever position in Olympic mountain biking. Sweden’s Rissveds made a triumphant return, claiming an emotional bronze after a two-year hiatus from the sport to prioritize her mental health.
“I had envisioned crossing the finish line with the medal around my neck for quite some time,” Batten mentioned, “so I anticipated feeling something extraordinary, but I can’t articulate just how incredible it is.”
French competitor Pauline Ferrand-Prévot clinched the gold medal on home soil, a title that has long evaded her throughout her illustrious career.
“I felt like a robot,” Ferrand-Prévot expressed. “I didn’t hear anyone on the course. Even my parents, I hardly registered them. I was simply focused on my mission.”
Loana Lecomte, another favorite from France, was in third place when she encountered a challenging section known as “the rock garden.” Unfortunately, she crashed hard, going over the handlebars and landing amidst the boulders, which crushed her Olympic dreams. After being evaluated by medical staff, she attended Ferrand-Prévot’s press conference with a bandage on her chin.
There was also disappointment for Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands, who was firmly in second place until a flat tire necessitated a wheel change. The 30 seconds lost dashed her hopes of reaching the Olympic podium, and she ultimately finished fourth.
This opened the door for Batten to take the silver medal, marking a historic moment for the Americans, who had previously secured bronze medals in the events of 1996 and 2012.
“I know I’m one of the best athletes in the world, and I believe I’m the best I’ve ever been,” Batten remarked. “For me, the key to success lies in the details, progressively improving each year, step by step.”
The event was held on a custom-designed course by South African expert Nick Floros, who also designed the mountain biking venues for the Rio and Tokyo Games. This course, carved from a wooded area in Elancourt Hill, once served as a sandstone quarry in the 1800s, later transitioning into a landfill until 1975 when it underwent a transformation into a beloved park.
The stands were filled with enthusiastic French fans on Sunday, who erupted with cheers each time Ferrand-Prévot raced past.
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Ferrand-Prévot has been striving to emulate Julie Bresset, who secured mountain bike gold for France at the 2012 London Games. After finishing 25th in that race, Ferrand-Prévot faced a devastating crash in Rio and could not complete the race, managing only a disappointing 10th place in the rainy delayed Tokyo Games.
“I poured my entire heart and soul into today’s race,” Batten said. She was fortunate enough to experience a flat tire near her mechanic, enabling a quick repair that kept her contention alive. “There was something exceptional within me today. My legs felt no pain for some reason. I just knew how badly I wanted this.”
