Kristen Faulkner Shockingly Wins Olympic Gold in Women’s Road Race

The Olympic women’s road race in Paris took place on Sunday, just a day after Remco Evenepoel from Belgium clinched gold in the men’s event. Kristen Faulkner, an American cyclist, stunned everyone by winning the race with a time of 3:49:23, making it a memorable event on the 40th anniversary of women’s cycling in the Olympics.

Faulkner made her move early, pushing ahead after crossing over the River Seine. No one could match her speed down the stretch. In a tight finish for the silver medal, Marianne Vos from the Netherlands edged out Lotte Kopecky from Belgium. With this win, Vos has now became one of the few women to secure multiple medals in the women’s road race.

Interestingly, Faulkner wasn’t even focused on this event initially. She was selected for the Olympics to join the American track cycling team but found herself in the road race only a few weeks before the games when her teammate Taylor Knibb stepped away to pursue the triathlon. It’s incredible to think that Faulkner only began cycling in 2017.

After her surprising victory, Faulkner was at a loss for words, saying, «I don’t know – you tell me what happened. This is a dream come true. I’m still looking at that finish line sign wondering how my name got there.»

During the race, there was plenty of action. An hour in, several riders attacked, and after the first climb, Slovakia’s Nora Jencusova took the lead. This was a significant moment as Afghan sisters Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi represented their country, marking the first athletes from Afghanistan to participate in the Olympic cycling event.

Meanwhile, back in the main group, the powerful Dutch team, including Demi Vollering, Lorena Wiebes, Ellen van Dijk, and Vos, were biding their time. The experienced Kopecky stayed within the pack after an impressive season leading to the Olympics.

As the race progressed, Jencusova and her team gathered a notable lead, but halfway through, the pace quickened, and they began to lose ground. By the time, they redirected towards the city, their advantage had narrowed down significantly.

Tragedy struck for American racer Chloe Dygert, who crashed during the crucial parts of the climb. This unfortunate incident caused a split in the leading pack and severely impacted her chances in the race.

Despite the chaos, Faulkner skillfully avoided the crash and made a decisive attack with Spain’s Mavi Garcia. In the final climb, Faulkner’s drive propelled her ahead, surprising everyone with her strength as she moved away from the pack.

As she crossed the finish line, Faulkner had her parents cheering for her, marking not just a personal achievement but also a historic moment, being the first American woman to win gold in the women’s road race since 1984. She expressed her satisfaction with her strategic attack, noting that she anticipated the other competitors would hesitate to work together since they were from different countries.

While Dygert fought hard to rejoin the race, she ultimately finished in the 15th position, showing the challenges competitors had to face. Overall, Faulkner’s incredible story showcases resilience and determination in finally reaching the Olympic podium.