A top-10 performance from debutante Kim Cadzow warmed a cold and wet opening day for cycling at the Paris Olympic Games.
The 22-year-old, in just her second year as an elite rider on the international scene, finished seventh in the women’s individual time trial over 32.5km that began at the Invalides and finished on the Pont Alexandre III Bridge on a day made challenging with continual light rain on greasy roads.
Cadzow, in her first international time trial, rode within her self with poise and purpose to claim the early lead and take up the hotseat with her time of 41:46 only 24 seconds off a medal in the event won by Australian Grace Brown.
”I am super, super proud of my performance. It was some crazy conditions out there so I am super-happy,” Kim said.
“I was not really sure what to expect coming here, and to have these conditions added to the nerves, but to be honest I really like when it is like this. I am just super-happy to be here and put up a performance that I can be proud of.
“This experience is amazing, to be here with all the support on the side of the road is like nothing I’ve ever done before. To be staying in a village full of absolute high performance athletes is just insane.
“Today gives me a lot of confidence and I look forward to the road race coming up.”
Teammate Laurance Pithie, who is not a specialist time trial rider, was pleased with his mid-table 24th placing in the men’s race. The European based World Tour rider clocked 38:49 for the distance, just 2:37 behind time trial expert and gold medallist Remco Evenepoel (BEL).
“I didn’t have too much expectations or pressure. It was about getting out there and putting in the best performance I could do. I real focus is the road race which is what my training has been focussed on.
I tried to give it my all today and put up a good result but I am not a time triallist and hard to match those time trial specialists.
There were some second thoughts going full gas into some of those corners because it was super-slippery. I can be satisfied, and gave it my all and left it all out there.”
Belgian star Remco Evenepoel claimed victory from Italian super-star Filippo Ganna with Belgium’s Wout van Aert third.