The Women’s Elite Cross-Country Olympic race, held on October 6, 2024 at Mont St. Anne, Quebec, Canada, delivered a gripping showdown, with French rider Loana Lecomte showcasing a masterclass in skill and endurance. Racing for Canyon CLLCTV XCO, Lecomte clinched the top spot with a total time of 1:19:01. She maintained an impressive average speed of 18.222 km/h across the 24 km course, securing a comfortable victory over second place Laura Stigger by nine seconds.
Podium
- 1st Place: Loana Lecomte (FRA), Canyon CLLCTV XCO, 1:19:01
- 2nd Place: Laura Stigger (AUT), Specialized Factory Racing, 1:19:10 (+9 seconds)
- 3rd Place: Sina Frei (SUI), Specialized Factory Racing, 1:20:20 (+1:19)
Lecomte’s performance was marked by consistency, holding the lead in key segments and setting the fastest lap at 12:00. Stigger and Frei showcased resilience, with Frei managing to secure third despite a challenging gap of over a minute from the leader.
Close contenders and notable finishes
- Candice Lill of South Africa finished fourth, 2:00 behind the leader, demonstrating her strength on the technical terrain.
- Alessandra Keller (SUI) and Evie Richards (GBR) rounded out the top six, both delivering commendable rides with Keller trailing by 2:04 and Richards by 2:21.
The race, spanning seven laps and a total distance of 24 kilometers, challenged riders with a mix of steep climbs and technical descents. Cloudy weather and mild temperatures of 59°F (15°C) provided optimal conditions, yet the technical demands saw several riders struggle to maintain the pace, with four being lapped and two not finishing.
This was Lecomte’s second first place finish in 2024 and third podium performance this year.
This article was written with assistance from generative artificial intelligence.
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