In a confusing and embarrassing Olympic moment, a Dutch cyclist triumphantly threw her arms in the air as she crossed the finish line. Annemiek van Vleuten, 38, believed she was taking home a gold medal.
But much to her dismay, she actually finished second, taking home a silver medal. Instead, Austria’s Anna Kiesenhofer had actually won Sunday’s road race.
Another cyclist speaking to the BBC was also unaware of Kiesenhofer’s win incorrectly congratulated van Vleuten. “The best person won here today. Annemiek was clearly the strongest, so, you know, a shout out to her,” 11th place rider Lizzie Deignan stated.
Kiesenhofer, 30, had such a commanding lead throughout the 137km race, she spent most of it out of sight of the other riders. Another element that likely added to the confusion is that cyclists compete without earpieces.
“This is an example (of what happens) if you ride an important race like this without communication. All World Tour races have communication, and now it’s the three of us standing here and wondering who has actually won,” said Van Vleuten of her and her teammates Anna van der Breggen and Marianne Vos.
Despite her disappointment, this is a redeeming moment for van Vleuten. She was involved in a severe crash while leading the 2016 Rio Games. The accident left with her a concussion and several fractures in her lower back.
This is Austria’s first cycling gold medal since 1896.
“It feels incredible,” Kiesenhofer said of her win. “I couldn’t believe it. Even when I crossed the line, it was like, ‘Is it done now? Do I have to continue riding?’ Incredible …”
