The individual time trials of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were raced in wet and slippery conditions. For some, months of preparations were ruined by Mother Nature, with the United States of America's Magnus Sheffield one of these unlucky number.
“I'm not gonna hide it, I’m disappointed," the 22-year-old INEOS Grenadiers star reflected post-race in conversation with Cycling News after eventually crossing the line with the 16th fastest time, 1:53 slower than the eventual gold medal winner, Remco Evenepoel.
Whilst Sheffield came into the time trial with hopes of finishing on the podium and claiming a medal, any of those ambitions were ultimately squashed as the American slid out on the wet roads during his efforts, ripping part of his jersey on the right hand side in the process.
"It was really slick out there, so I felt my rear wheel start to go in that roundabout, and I knew I had to take it more carefully on the wet roads," he admits afterwards. “Once it started to go around me, the bike fishtailed, then it was like I was on ice, so I just wasn't able to keep it upright. After I just tried to be cautious in the corners. even though it's the Olympics, so you just have to always keep your head up."
Whilst this was arguably Sheffield's best hope of claiming an Olympic medal, it wasn't his only hope. Alongside Matteo Jorgenson and Brandon McNulty, Sheffield will represent the United States of America in the men's road race on the 3rd of August. “Matteo has been incredible this entire season, and so is Brandon. I've had my ups and downs, but I also feel really good," Sheffield previews. "The road races is a lottery. At the Olympics, it's such a small field, so I think we can give it a good go."
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