Kristen Faulkner of Team USA rode away from the rest of the field in the women’s cycling road race, claiming an emphatic gold medal in the heart of Paris at the Trocadero on Sunday, 4 August.
It was a stunning victory for the American rider, who started cycling after a collegiate rowing career. The 31-year-old was stuck in a state of disbelief after crossing the finish line in sight of the Eiffel Tower. Responding to a question about her victory, Faulkner said: “I don’t know – you tell me what happened.”
Thankfully, Olympics.com can.
Faulkner spent much of the race inside the safety of the peloton, enjoying a leisurely ride through the outskirts of Paris. She conserved her energy, letting teams with more riders chase down an early breakaway that included Afghan sisters Fariba Hashimi and Yulduz Hashimi.
She maneuvered her way through the mass of riders, as the peloton approached the first pass of the Cote de la Butte Montmartre. This proved to be a decisive moment in the road race, as Chloe Dygert (USA) crashed towards the front of the peloton, causing the group to splinter into many smaller ones.
Faulkner drove the pace at the front of the race, making it harder for medal favorites caught out by the crash to catch the leaders. She shared the responsibility with other riders, making sure to conserve more energy for the final passes of the Cote de la Butte Montmartre.
The Netherlands’ Marianne Vos and Hungary’s Blanka Vas managed to slip away from the lead group, striking it out on their own, with their dreams of medals looking more realistic by the kilometer.
However, Faulkner was not done yet. She charged up the final pass of the Cote de la Butte Montmartre, eating into the gap with every pedal stroke. Her furious pace destroyed the chasing group, with only Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky remaining on her wheel.
The pair could see Vos and Vas as they summited the final climb, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
Faulkner and Kopecky worked together to close the gap, catching Vos and Vas with three kilometers to go. The eventual gold medalist wasted no time, attacking her three rivals immediately.
“I knew I had to attack them as soon as we caught them,” said Faulkner. “I knew they were sprinters. But I knew they didn’t want to work together – they were three different countries. I knew if I got a small gap they would have to race for second.”
She was right. No one could match her move. Faulkner was home free, speeding towards the Trocadero to claim an Olympic gold medal in front of her parents.
“This is a dream come true. I’m still looking at that finish line sign wondering how my name got there,” said a shocked Faulkner.
