(Paris) Kristen Faulkner chose the right time to launch her attack, winning the women’s cycling road race at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
She became the first American woman to win gold in the event in 30 years, crossing the finish line of the 158-kilometer race in less than four hours.
With a time of three hours, 59 minutes and 23 seconds, Faulkner finished 58 seconds ahead of Marianne Vos of the Netherlands and Lotte Kopecky of Belgium. The latter two and Blanka Vas of Hungary were separated by the photo-witness at the finish.
Canadians Alison Jackson (4:04.23) and Olivia Baril (4:07.16) respectively took the 19e and 44e ranks.
PHOTO RICARDO MAZALAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Olivia Barrel
Faulkner and Kopecky caught up with Vos and Vas with three kilometers to go. When Faulkner launched her sprint, the other three hesitated to follow her and were never able to catch her.
She had only the Eiffel Tower and glory before her.
The 31-year-old from Alaska is the first American woman to win a medal in road cycling of any color since Connie Carpenter and Alexi Grewal won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.