Pidcock!

[Wotsits]

Anyone else watching/listening?

GO TOM!!!

[Boab]

Anyone else watching/listening?

GO TOM!!!

Thought it was on at 15:10!

[riderdown]

French not happy, but it was a legit move and he was in front of the french rider

[Dave Barter]

We stopped work to watch that vaguely exciting ride. Never ever give up and as for the final move … amazing

[Wotsits]

Dramatic stuff!!

I'm sure there'll be a few grumbles, but after reeling the French rider back-in after puncturing he well deserved the win..

Our first Gold.....Edit- trumped by a horse named after a London Bus!!

[godivatrailrider]

Yeah to pull back 40seconds after the puncture ... and then that overtake !! There were 2 lanes, and Tom was in front..... there was some booing from the crowds at the end but only to be expected ... water off a ducks back to Tom I'm sure, it was great racing. Surely that happens in F1 all the time, it was cheeky & brave but nothing worse than that... Chapeau !

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/li ... a5ba6#post

[voodoo_simon]

vaguely exciting stuff, can’t wait to see it on catch up tonight

Pauline FP rode a fantastic race yesterday, totally dominated her ride and the crowds were deafening (or at least my volume was turned up!)

Was worried for Lecomte yesterday, thought her crash was quite nasty and no update from the commentators but saw a picture of her walking post race

[riderdown]

BBC commentator was dire, Isla was fine but he was a waste of a microphone

[Taylor]

Eurosport presenters were much better

[GregMay]

Rick.. better... not by much.. he irritates me with his incessant prattling.

Oli is excellent.

[voodoo_simon]

https://x.com/YntoTheRide/status/1817922512035917834

[faustus]

What a race and a great win from Pidcock, really fantastic. The BBC commentary was garbage though, zero build up to him crossing the line for gold? The pace is so relentless.

[riderdown]

The BBC commentary was garbage though, zero build up to him crossing the line for gold? The pace is so relentless.

It was like two people chatting about the event in the pub whilst watching the live coverage

[godivatrailrider]

https://x.com/YntoTheRide/status/1817922512035917834

Gives a different view doesn't it! He'd lost his rhythm and Tom took full advantage

[Dave Barter]

Are you sure that is the same overtake?

[godivatrailrider]

Are you sure that is the same overtake?

I think it has to be... 2 laps earlier they weren't together, 1 lap earlier there were three of them, and Tom goes to the left of the tree .... unless that was the other unfilmed overtake about half a lap earlier, but the "Tom to the left, Victor to the right " seems unlikely ....but I guess it could be a different overtake.

[faustus]

Yeah that clip above is the earlier one before the final lap, which wasn't on the coverage, he just came out of the trees ahead and never showed how it happened on TV...then Koretzky overtook Pidcock again uphill before the finish line before the last lap started...then it was the 'controversial' overtake nearer the end (nothing that controversial, just a ballsy move).

[godivatrailrider]

Yeah that clip above is the earlier one before the final lap, which wasn't on the coverage, he just came out of the trees ahead and never showed how it happened on TV...then Koretzky overtook Pidcock again uphill before the finish line before the last lap started...then it was the 'controversial' overtake nearer the end (nothing that controversial, just a ballsy move).

Ah ok

[voodoo_simon]

Oh yeah, sorry Just put the link up with no context, but looks like it’s been worked out. I was thinking it was the lap before but wanted to show a bit of the shoulder to shoulder racing

Anyone else thinking that mountain bikers need to step up now for XC? Seems that whenever Tom enters a mountain bike race, he wins**. Maybe a turning point for the sport in terms of training/nutrition etc

Edit - big up to suntour for yet another gold medal

*maybe it’s the cyclocross background rather than road

** seven XC race wins, one euro champ, one worlds, two olympics in three years

[johnnystorm]

Not to take away from Tom's outstanding ride in any way but I think that a World Cup field could be a harder event as there's a better chance its at altitude and the pack hasn't been whittled down to 2 per nation.

[PaulB2]

I don't think we'll suddenly see a lot of Pinarello mountain bikes despite them being ridden to both olympic golds - the rear wheel alone cost $2800!

[faustus]

Yeah, and I think it's a pretty ugly bike as well - but I don't like Pinarello styling of any of their bikes to be honest.

[PaulB2]

Their gravel bike in particular looks like someone's ridden it into a brick wall so that it's buckled

[fatbikephil]

Oh yeah, sorry Just put the link up with no context, but looks like it’s been worked out. I was thinking it was the lap before but wanted to show a bit of the shoulder to shoulder racing

Anyone else thinking that mountain bikers need to step up now for XC? Seems that whenever Tom enters a mountain bike race, he wins**. Maybe a turning point for the sport in terms of training/nutrition etc

Edit - big up to suntour for yet another gold medal

*maybe it’s the cyclocross background rather than road

** seven XC race wins, one euro champ, one worlds, two olympics in three years

I think it's 'cos he is fairly unique in being super strong and a good rider. I get the feeling that a lot of the XC types are focusing more on out and out strength rather than technical ability - the number of wipe outs on the World champs course last year seemed to bear this out....

[riderdown]

I get the feeling that a lot of the XC types are focusing more on out and out strength rather than technical ability - the number of wipe outs on the World champs course last year seemed to bear this out..

I think it's the opposite, world cup courses are getting more technical and so are the riders, the Olympics course was designed for the french riders so tamer than a world cup. They are riding technical stuff in long sections whilst breathing out their arse seeing stars on XC bikes. Not surprised some come off, no-one critiques DH riders for falling off. The big drop off the platform after the hill which they all styled through would never be seen on an xc course 10 years ago and that was an easier bit.

Evie Richards has a downhill coach, others similar

Oli Beckingsdale commented on a round of the world cup and he thinks the difference is massive