Not even a flat tyre and damaged wheel may cease Haley Batten on her mission for achievement within the Paris 2024 Olympics mountain bike cross-country race, with the 25-year-old taking a shocking silver medal in Élancourt – the USA’s best-ever end in Olympic MTB competitors.
Batten was in a chase group behind the three leaders, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Loana Lecomte (each France) and Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) on the fourth lap, when immediately she disappeared from the published, later revealing that she “destroyed” her again wheel and was pressured to limp to the technical space for a wheel change.
“I obtained a flat tyre, I truly destroyed a wheel in the present day. So proper after I caught Loana [Lecomte] and was shifting into bronze medal [position], I broke a wheel,” Batten informed reporters together with Cyclingnews on the end.
“That was actually disappointing, and I used to be apprehensive that I’d misplaced my likelihood at a medal in the present day. But, you realize, I stayed so calm, my thoughts was proper within the place that it wanted to be and I gave every thing in the present day.
“I’m shocked I’m nonetheless standing proper now.”
The American fought exhausting along with her “complete coronary heart and soul” to overhaul a number of riders and rejoin the chasing duo of Laura Stigger (Austria) and Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) on lap 5. She then proved to be the strongest within the closing two laps, benefiting from a puncture for Pieterse and finally gapping former Olympic champion Rissveds to say silver behind a dominant Ferrand-Prévot.
She gave huge reward to her mechanics for doing such a fast change, additionally crediting Rissveds for serving to her produce the next stage in such a tense hour and a half effort. The pair fought exhausting however rode nicely collectively to maintain the likes of Pieterse and Evie Richard (Great Britain) behind within the race for bronze and silver.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and knowledgeable shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“Me and Jenny [Rissveds] have been racing at each single race this yr. She’s made me a greater athlete. I knew after we had been collectively in these final two laps, it might be actually, actually exhausting to beat her, and I put my complete coronary heart and soul into in the present day’s race,” mentioned Batten.
“I knew, after she gave a few actually huge assaults, that she is perhaps burning a couple of too many matches. And I simply had one thing particular inside me in the present day. My legs by no means damage. For some motive, I do not know, I simply wished it so, so dangerous.”
Batten paid large tribute to those that got here earlier than her for USA MTB, notably two-time Olympian Lea Davison and bronze medallist from London 2012 Georgia Gould, each of whom impressed her to be a mountain biker professional and mentored her all through her journey to Olympic silver in 2024.
It was a tricky highway for Batten, who after ending on the rostrum of the World Championships cross-country in 2022, had a tricky 2023 season derailed by a nasty concussion. Once once more she was stuffed with gratitude for USA biking coach and three-time Olympic gold medallist Kristin Armstrong’s assist.
“I actually wished to podium at World Championships final yr in order that I may qualify for the Olympics the yr prematurely, concentrate on this race. But I obtained injured and I had a concussion. I needed to skip that race,” mentioned Batten.
“But I’ve the most effective coach on the planet – Kristin Armstrong – she’s received three gold medals within the time trial occasion and she or he is aware of carry out on the day. I trusted her with every thing and truthfully, in the present day was my finest, and we timed it completely. More than something on my bodily health, my thoughts was clicked into this race and I’ve been making ready for this race for years.
“I feel that it takes every thing, like emotionally, bodily, to be prepared on the day, and I used to be proper the place I wanted to be in the present day.”
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the 2024 Olympic Games – together with breaking information and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom from each occasion throughout highway, mountain bike, monitor and BMX racing because it occurs and extra. Find out extra.