Remco Evenepoel is the new Olympic champion in the individual time trial. After beating Filippo Ganna at the 2023 World Championships, he leaves the Italian behind again at the 2024 Olympics. Ganna won the silver medal 14 seconds behind, while bronze went to Evenepoel's compatriot Wout van Aert, who was 25 seconds off the gold medal in the end.
Evenepoel the fastest right from the start
The relatively short and flat time trial was characterised by close time gaps right from the start. As the race progressed, it became clear that four riders would decide the medals among themselves: Wout van Aert, Joshua Tarling, Filippo Ganna and Remco Evenepoel. However, the latter indicated from the start that he was the hottest contender for the gold medal. He was seven seconds ahead of the competition at the first intermediate time and eleven seconds ahead at the second. At the finish, it was ultimately 14 seconds that separated the Belgian from second-placed Filippo Ganna. He in turn was still in third place at the second split time around ten kilometres before the finish, but shifted up a gear at the end and pushed Wout van Aert out of silver.
Schachmann finishes in the top ten
Maximilian Schachmann was the only rider from Germany to compete in the individual time trial - and the Berlin rider justified his nomination. He approached the race in a tactically clever way and organised his strength well. While time trial specialists such as Mathias Vacek and Mikkel Bjerg were still ahead of him at the intermediate times, he still had the necessary power at the end to beat their times. In the end, it was enough for a great ninth place, which Schachmann should be happy with - he is right up there with the world's best.
Olympia 2024: Results - the top 10 of the time trial
- Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) 36:12
- Filippo Ganna (Italy) +0:14
- Wout van Aert (Belgium) +0:25
- Joshua Tarling (Great Britain) +0:27
- Brandon McNulty (USA) +1:04
- Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland) +1:26
- Nelson Oliveira (Portugal) +1:30
- Stefan Küng (Switzerland) +1:35
- Maximilian Schachmann (Germany) +1:38
- Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark) +1:43
How the 2024 Olympic time trial went
In rainy conditions in Paris, Amir Ansari from the Olympic Refugee Team opened the Olympic time trial. Shortly after him, Mathias Vacek, a rider who was to lead the intermediate times for a long time, took to the track. The Czech set the first target time of 37:55 minutes at the finish.
Schachmann and van Aert start
A little later it was the turn of the German Maximilian Schachmann and Wout van Aert. The Belgian drew attention to himself because he rode with disc wheels both at the front and rear. In the end, this paid off with a medal.
When the top riders around Joshua Tarling, Filippo Ganna and Remco Evenepoel started, it was already clear that Wout van Aert had arrived in good form. He clearly pulverised all the previously set intermediate times.
Tarling has to change his racing machine
Co-favourite Joshua Tarling did not get off to a good start, as he had to change his racing machine before the first time check. As a result, he lost important seconds that would ultimately prove decisive in the medal race.
Four riders pull away
Maximilian Schachmann's strong race, which ultimately resulted in ninth place, went a little under the radar. The reason for this was that Wout van Aert crossed the finish line shortly after him and was able to sit in the hot seat with a lead of over a minute over the competition. As a result, he only had three riders to fear: Remco Evenepoel, Filippo Ganna and Joshua Tarling. The decision was made between these riders.
Tarling was a few seconds behind the other three riders throughout the race due to the bike change - and that didn't change at the finish. The young Brit was two seconds short of ousting van Aert from first place.
Battle for second and third place
Ganna lost his way once in the final section and had to brake to avoid crashing into a barrier. At that point, anything between second and fourth place was possible for the Italian. Remco Evenepoel already had a clear lead of over ten seconds over the three riders.
In the end, however, Ganna was able to shift up a gear and finished well ahead of van Aert and Tarling. Evenepoel, who had been faster than the competition throughout the race, was then able to celebrate. Tarling came away empty-handed, with the medals going to Evenepoel, Ganna and van Aert.
