Triumphant Finale: Veteran Olympian Wins Gold and Shatters Record in Final Race Before Retirement

Pauline Ferrand-Prevot ended her professional career in spectacular fashion, securing a long-sought Olympic gold medal. The French mountain biker triumphed by finishing 2 minutes, 57 seconds ahead of her closest competitor in her final race.

PARIS, France — On an electrified Sunday, Ferrand-Prevot finally clinched the Olympic gold medal that had eluded her for over a decade. Haley Batten seized the silver medal, achieving the best-ever finish for an American rider after capitalizing on the misfortune of key rivals.

With arms raised in victory, Ferrand-Prevot crossed the finish line to the roar of thousands. She dismounted and hoisted her bike aloft, basking in the celebration on the gravel straightaway.

Ferrand-Prevot’s significant lead placed her nearly 3 minutes ahead of Batten, who managed to outpace Rio gold medalist Jenny Rissveds in the final lap. Rissveds, who had taken time off for mental health reasons, secured an emotional third-place finish.

Loana Lecomte, another French hopeful, suffered a brutal crash midway through the race. Encountering a challenging rock garden, she was thrown over her handlebars, crashing amid boulders and ending her Olympic bid.

The race also saw heartbreak for Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands, who was in second place before a flat tire forced a wheel change. The delay cost her valuable time, dashing her podium hopes.

The event unfolded on a specialized course at Elancourt Hill, designed by South African expert Nick Floros. Transforming from a 19th-century sandstone quarry to a landfill, and then to a regenerated park, the venue was packed with fervent French fans.

Ferrand-Prevot’s journey to gold was marked by past disappointments. She aimed to emulate Julie Bresset, the French gold medalist of the 2012 London Games, but faced setbacks in previous Olympics. Finishing 25th in 2012, she crashed in Rio and placed 10th in the Tokyo Games due to challenging conditions.

The 32-year-old from Reims plans to focus on her road cycling career. Earlier this year, she won two World Cups, arriving in Paris with renewed confidence.

Immediately taking the lead, she broke away on the second lap, navigating sharp climbs to secure a 29-second lead by Lap 2. By the third lap, her lead had extended to a full minute, cementing her dominant performance.

With Ferrand-Prevot’s gold settled, the remaining drama centered on the battle for the other podium spots. Lecomte’s crash shifted the pressure to Pieterse, whose flat tire reshuffled the race dynamics. Ultimately, Batten and Rissveds vied fiercely for the remaining medals.