Evenepoel survives late puncture to win second gold

Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel survived a late puncture to secure a dominant victory in the Olympic men’s road race in Paris and add to the gold medal he won in the time trial seven days ago.

The 2022 world champion became the first man to win both road cycling events at the same Games.

Evenepoel, 24, attacked from the peloton and bridged across to the front group inside the final 40km.

He then set a punishing pace with the last rider, France’s Valentin Madouas, dropping off his wheel on the penultimate climb with 15km to go.

The Belgian had a late scare, having to change bikes after a puncture inside the final four kilometres, but he had already built a substantial lead and cruised to victory one minute and 11 seconds ahead of Madouas in second.

Madouas’ fellow Frenchman Christophe Laporte won bronze as he out-sprinted a small group for third.

Ireland’s Ben Healy, who spent much of the race in the leading group, rolled home in 10th, while Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock, who won mountain bike gold on Monday, finished 13th.

Evenepoel finished third in his first Tour de France 13 days ago.

Selected others:

13. Tom Pidcock (GB) +1min 50secs

31. Stephen Williams (GB) +3min 42secs

43. Fred Wright (GB) +7mins 23secs

47. Joshua Tarling (GB) +7mins 23secs