The cycling segment of the women’s triathlon at the Paris Olympics turned chaotic on Wednesday, as athletes lost control on the slippery cobblestones due to the wet conditions.
The event was challenged by a mix of rainstorms, heat, and humidity, causing numerous competitors to struggle with their bikes on the cobblestone streets of Paris, leading to multiple crashes.
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Guam’s Manami Iijima was the first to crash, followed closely by Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes, Germany’s Lisa Tertsch, and Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen.
Guam’s Manami Iijima crashes while competing in the cycling portion of the women’s individual triathlon at the Paris Olympic Games on July 31. (Ben STANSALL / AFP)
“I don’t really have any words for the last two hours that we just experienced,” stated Australian triathlete Sophie Linn to reporters via the Sydney Morning Herald. “That was every single possible adverse weather condition, you know, a high current, rain, heat, humidity — it was just everything along with the crowds.”
Some athletes were forced to withdraw from the race due to persistent crashes, including Norwegian competitor Lotte Miller, who fell off her bike twice before exiting the event.
For those who continued, the ongoing crashes significantly affected the final standings.
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Germany’s Laura Lindemann lost control with three laps to go while part of the leading group of ten cyclists. Following her crash, she was unable to regain her speed.
Colombia’s Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto falls to the ground during the cycling segment of the women’s individual triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 31, 2024. (Ben STANSALL / AFP)
On the other hand, Great Britain’s Beth Potter and Georgia Taylor-Brown managed to avoid crashes, allowing them to start the running segment in the lead group. Potter ultimately secured a bronze medal, while France’s Cassandre Beaugrand took gold, and Switzerland’s Julie Derron earned silver.
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Before the event, there were significant concerns regarding the triathlon’s safety, particularly about the cleanliness of the River Seine for swimming. The event was postponed by a day due to water pollution concerns, despite a $1.4 billion investment to clean the river ahead of the Olympics, which was severely compromised by the heavy rainfall.
“It felt like I was in a bizarre video game,” Linn reflected. “I think we ended up getting dirtier on the bike than we did in the water, due to all the water splashing up from the road. I made it a point to stay near the front of the pack to steer clear of crashes.”
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