“I tried my best to medal and it just didn't happen,” was the summary of the men’s road race at the Paris Olympic Games by debutant Matteo Jorgenson (United States of America). He finished ninth under the Eiffel Tower in a small group chasing the bronze medal, which went to France’s Christophe Laporte.
Before the road race, the 25-year-old had predicted the Belgians would be the team to beat, since they had a formidable foursome with Remco Evenepoel, who won the Olympic time trial last weekend, Wout van Aert, the silver medallist at the Tokyo Games road race, as well as Jasper Stuyven and Tiesj Benoot.
He was very familiar with the Belgians, as three of them ride for his trade team Visma-Lease a Bike, and his prediction rang true, as Evenepoel charged for a solo victory. Valentin Madous (France) took silver and left everyone else chasing one final podium spot.
