As the Olympic Games draw near, the anticipation for the first medals in cycling mountain bike races intensifies. The women’s race is set for July 28, followed by the men’s race on July 29. Both events will take place at Elancourt Hill in the town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Elancourt Hill, the highest point in the Île-de-France region of Paris, stands at 231 meters. The hill offers breathtaking views that will complement the exhilarating races, featuring a blend of strength, courage, stamina, and bike-handling skills.
Reigning champion British rider Tom Pidcock enters the Olympics with a strong record, having competed in cyclo-cross, road racing, and mountain biking this year, winning both World Cup events he participated in. Pidcock will also compete in the road race in Paris, though his early exit from this year’s Tour de France raises slight concerns about his form.
Swiss cyclist Nino Schurter, a legend in mountain biking, will also be competing. At 38, Schurter has an illustrious career, including an Olympic gold from 2016 and numerous World Championship and World Cup victories. Another Olympic win would be a crowning achievement in his 15-year career.
France’s Victor Koretzky will have the advantage of a home crowd cheering him on. Koretzky has had a strong season with two short-track wins and a recent second place in the Val di Sole World Cup. South African rider Alan Hatherly, in excellent form after his first World Cup win in Les Gets, is another strong contender.
Mathias Flückiger, currently topping the rankings, aims to improve on his silver medal from Tokyo. His second-place finishes in World Cup events in Les Gets suggest he is in top form for Paris.
In the women’s race, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot of France is the favorite. Despite a disappointing European Championship performance, her victories in the last two World Cup events indicate she is peaking at the right time. Young Dutch rider Puck Pieterse, with her European success and two World Cup wins, is expected to be Ferrand-Prévot’s main competitor.
France’s Loana Lecomte, second in the last World Championships and reigning French champion, is another strong contender, although her absence from the last World Cup race raises some fitness concerns. Other notable riders include Switzerland’s Alessandra Keller, who tops the World Cup rankings, and Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds, who could surprise everyone with a strong performance.
As the Olympic mountain bike races approach, the excitement builds for what promises to be thrilling and fiercely contested events at Elancourt Hill.
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