Gold for the USA as Kristen Faulkner solos to stunning gold in Women's Olympic Road Race in Paris

Gold has gone to the USA and to the incredible Kristen Faulkner after a sensational women's Olympic road race in Paris. Completing the podium, a photo finish was required.

As is often the case in Olympic or World Championship road races, it was the smaller and less heralded cycling nations that went on the early attack. On this occasion, riders from nations such as Vietnam, Afghanistan, Israel and Slovakia broke free from the bunch early on.

With 100km to go, the leader's advantage over the peloton had extended over five and a half minutes. As the gap remained over five minutes with around 85km to go however, the Netherlands became the first big nation to blink, sending Ellen van Dijk to the front of the peloton, with the gap immediately beginning to shrink as a result.

As things kicked off the ascent of the Côte du Pavé des Gardes with around 65km to go, the peloton was reduced considerably, as was the time gap to the leaders. Although the subsequent repeated attacks at the front of the peloton were unable to fully snap the elastic, as the race entered Paris city centre for the final 50km, just two remained from the breakaway, only 14 seconds clear.

Just as the break were finally caught, some of the pre-race favourites including Chloe Dygert and Elise Chabbey were brought down in a crash towards the front of the bunch. With the attacks continuing at the front, an elite group began to ride clear. Notably absent initially was world champion Lotte Kopecky, perhaps caught up behind the crash. Although the Belgian did eventually work her way across to the front, how much energy had she used to get there. In total, alongside Kopecky were Anna Henderson, Lizzie Deignan, Pfeiffer Georgi, Mavi Garcia, Marianne Vos, Elisa Longo Borghini, Noemi Ruegg, Kristen Faulkner, Liane Lippert, Marta Lach and Blanka Kata Vas. The biggest absentees were the Dutch duo of Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes, plus the French hopefuls and Katarzyna Niewiadoma.

On the second ascent of Montmartre, the gap between leaders and chasers was nearing a minute as Wiebes launched a counter attack from behind drawing Niewiadoma and Caroline Andersson with her. At the front however, the numbers advantage for Team GB was quickly diminished as both Deignan and Henderson were dropped. Seeing this however, Georgi attempted an attack and managed to get a small gap.

Once Kopecky dragged the group back into contact with Georgi, the riding at the front lulled slightly. As a result, both Henderson and Deignan were soon back in contact, giving Team GB three riders in the lead group yet again. Not wasting any time, Deignan went straight over the top, catching all but Vos and Vas out and soon after the duo had managed to drop Deignan, leaving just the two out front. Two riders at the complete opposite ends of their careers, the 37-year-old Dutchwoman Marianne Vos and the 22-year-old Hungarian Blanka Vas were putting time into their rivals and with 15km to go their lead was up to 39 seconds.

At 10km to go, the chase, now down to just Faulkner, Kopecky, Georgi and Garcia were down to just 25 seconds away from the lead duo. In fact, as Faulkner continued to put the hammer down, all but Kopecky were ridden off the back wheel and suddenly they had the leaders in their sights. With just over 3km to go, the catch was finally made and immediately, Faulkner attacked and the three behind just looked at each other. As Faulkner rode to the gold, a sprint was needed to settle silver and bronze with Vos and Kopecky taking the respective medals.

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