The road racing at the Paris Olympic Games may not have brought riches in terms of top-10 placings for kiwi riders, but it did bring some remarkable scenes in remarkable settings.
The road was set in and around the Eiffel Tower with a 272km course for men and 150km for women out to Versailles and then back to include city loops with some telling climbs, in hot and humid weather conditions.
In the men, Corbin Strong finished in the back of the second peloton in 27th place, 2:57 down on winner, the remarkable 24-year-old Belgian Remco Evenepoel who skipped away solo in the closing laps. Laurence Pithie was in the next peloton back in 39th.
Strong said not having race radios, an integral part of professional cycling, made a difference.
“I thought I was at the back of the peloton fighting for third but expected we were a lot closer the front than we were. It is quite tricky without race radio,” said the WorldTour professional.
“I was hoping to be a bit closer and have a crack in the sprint but when we realised we were back and out of it, I rode in to the finish.
“While that was disappointing, it was an incredible experience and an honour to represent your country.”
Both riders have little chance to savour their experience, with both set to compete in the final Grand tour of the year in the Vuelta a Espana in two weeks.
The in-form Niamh Fisher-Black had hopes of a top finish in the women’s race but that was burst when she was caught on the wrong side of a two-rider crash on the first time up the climb.
A two-rider crash blocked the narrow road sufficiently that only one rider managed to bridge back up to the lead group.
Fisher-Black finished in the main peloton in 31st with teammate Kim Cadzow in the second peloton, while USA former share trader, Kristen Faulkner surprised the key favourites to claim the victory in the remarkable setting in front of the Eiffel Tower.
“I was disappointed because I felt I had good legs today and came in with good form,” said Niamh. “Lotte (Kopecky) did manage to bridge up after the crash but she is a special rider.
“I thought I could play a good role in the race today.
“It was an experience like no other. The first time up the climb was so deafening you could not think. It was remarkable . It was also the fastest women’s race that I have been in. The support and this amazing setting was a very special experience.”
Fisher-Black said she would be keen to compete in Los Angeles in four years and hopes “It will be an ultra-hard course.”