While a crash appeared to undo Chloé Dygert’s desires of a gold medal within the girls’s time trial on the Paris 2024 Olympics, the American gave no excuses for dropping out to Australia’s Grace Brown on Saturday.
Dygert was gracious in defeat, stating that the treacherous circumstances which noticed Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Taylor Knibb (USA) among the many crashers have been truly what she favours, merely admitting that she acquired it incorrect.
“I simply did not set it up proper. I slid out proper into it. [It was] my fault, Dygert instructed reporters together with Cyclingnews on the end.
“I like this climate. I like this temperature so I can not complain an excessive amount of about something. But I might undoubtedly inform instantly, I smacked my leg on my body so the spasms and issues have been sort of happening within the leg. So right here and there, I might inform that there have been moments the place I simply misplaced just a little little bit of energy, once more that is no excuse for ending third.”
Dygert was 5 seconds down on Brown on the first intermediate time examine, however dropped to 51 seconds slower than the Aussies at T2 and finally 1:32 slower on the end. The crash, nevertheless, did trigger him to complete in bronze as a substitute of silver, crossing the road one second slower than Britain’s Anna Henderson.
“Those two women forward of me are superb athletes, and superb riders and wouldn’t take away something from them immediately,” Dygert stated. “Also what a tremendous means for Grace to finish out her final yr racing with a robust trip. So I’m actually happy to be right here and naturally, it is onerous to not be on that prime step”
While the competitor in Dygert was after all upset, she was glad for the group of people that have helped her return from a collection of setbacks ever since her career-threatening crash at Imola Worlds in 2020.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and professional shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“To be trustworthy, for them, I’d say sure, however for me, no,” stated Dygert when requested if she was joyful contemplating the place she was 4 years in the past.
“I do not present as much as a race to lose, I’m not going to be a sore loser, however all people reveals as much as win, all people right here who is not on that prime step might be going to say the identical factor.
“We need to win, we do not need to lose, however we’ll be appreciative and supportive to all of the riders. You know, that is simply how it’s, the rider is best on the day, that’s simply the way it goes. I’ve simply acquired to get higher so the subsequent time I present up, I can hope to be on that prime step.”
As has been the case in most races since her horrific leg harm, Dygert might barely stroll previous the end line, writhing in ache as she was helped in the direction of the blended zone. Thankfully, she didn’t rule out her participation in subsequent weekend’s highway race or the upcoming monitor biking occasions.
“My leg undoubtedly is hurting however I’ve nice arms supporting me proper now. So we’ll go residence and do the whole lot we will to ensure that I’m the very best care doable to hopefully begin the highway race and the group pursuit once more,” stated Dygert.
“Of course, I’m bummed, however I’m simply very blessed to be right here and I’m able to go for the subsequent race and plan on world championships. And, yeah, subsequent Olympics we acquired it.”
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.