The XC project of this Olympic Games has come to an end, and it can be said that a few families are happy and a few are sad, of course, the victory or defeat of competitive sports is a common thing, and they have not always won and will not always lose. Let's take a look back at some of the interesting images from the XC at this Olympic Games.
Even the less difficult tracks can present exciting events
The Olympic cross-country race took place on Elancourt Hill, a 19th-century sandstone quarry that later became a landfill until it closed in 1975. After being rebuilt, the hill has been a park since 1980, which is also the highest point in the Paris region, but only 231 meters above sea level.
No major infrastructure was built at the site ahead of the Paris Olympics, which officials said was to minimise the impact on biodiversity. Ninety-five percent of the Olympic mountain track, designed by ·South Africa expert Nick Floros, is based on existing developments.
While Pauline completed her best wish by nearly three minutes, the other women's competitors were highly competitive, with Haley · Haley Batten, Jenny Rissveds · Parker · Puck Pieterse putting in strong performances. In the men's competition, the battle was even more fierce, and it was not until the end that the gold medal was contested.
Although the technical content of the track is not as technical as any of the World Cup stations this season, there are many competitors who have broken tires and crashed. For example, Anna · Lecomte crashed and retired, Nino rarely got off the rocky road, and Piedcock broke the front tire.
Drivers who qualify early have a better chance of winning gold.
Looking at the medal winners, it seems that having an advantage in qualifying for the Olympics early is more pronounced as they are able to focus more on their performance at the Olympics rather than worrying about qualifying for the Games.
For example, gold medalists Pauline and Tom · Pidcock will not have to worry about whether they will be selected for France and United Kingdom for the Paris Olympics after winning the 2023 World Championships. Men's silver medalist Viktor · Koretzky won the Paris Test event in 2023 and finished in the top five at the XC World Championships, two of the main criteria for the selection of the France team, so he is almost guaranteed a place in the France team in 2024.
Jenny · Riswitz, as Sweden's top driver, doesn't have to worry about whether she will make the Sweden team in Paris. Similarly, Alan Hatherly · not have to worry about whether he qualifies for the South Africa World Cup.
Unlike the eventual medal winners, the Switzerland riders had to fight until the end of the final qualifying session of the year, which takes place in Nova Mesto a full month later. Nino· Schulte, Matthias· Frukig and Alexandra· Keller didn't know if they would join the Switzerland until the end of May, while Frey didn't come off the bench even a few weeks ago after Yolanda · Neff withdrew from the game.
Pinarello和Specialized是领奖台赢家。
Pinarello was undoubtedly the most successful brand of the Games, helping Pauline and Pydcock to win gold medals for both men and women, proving that both the German hardtail and softtail have strong frame performance.
The Lightning, on the other hand, helped Victor · Koretzky and Hayley · Barton on the podium. Alan · Hathley rode his Canon Dale scalpel to take bronze in the men's category, while Jeanne · Riswiz drove the Ibis Exie to the final spot on the women's podium.
Pauline made the right choice to put all her eggs in one basket
While it can backfire for some athletes to put everything in one game, it worked out well for Pauline. After being disappointed in her last three Olympic Games, she gave it her all to win gold at the Paris Olympics in her hometown. Not having to worry about whether she would qualify for the France team, she skipped the first two rounds of the World Cup in Brazil to avoid crashes or fatigue to interfere with her preparations, and then won the New Mesto World Cup and the Val Di Sol World Cup.
Pauline, who won five XCO World Championships in 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023, knows how to be at the top of her game in the big races, so she skipped the next two rounds and also announced that she will retire from mountain biking at the end of the season.
"I want to prepare for this Olympics and I should be decisive and not think 'should I continue mountain biking. So I decided to end my mountain bike and get back on the road. So I have to give it my all for my last chance at the Olympics. ”
Tom · Pidcock is expected to break records in the future
Tom · Pydcock equalled the record of Julien Absalon and Paola Pezzo · Paula · at this Olympics, as the trio are the only two-time Olympic gold medallists. And the 25-year-old has at least one chance to break that record.
Editor: Hamma