'I didn't do anything wrong' - Tom Pidcock defends daring move that won Olympic gold

Brit booed by French crowds after mountain bike victory, despite consensus of no wrongdoing

Tom Pidcock with his hands over his face
(Image credit: Ed Sykes/SWpix)

There were boos when Tom Pidcock crossed the line to win the Paris Olympics mountain bike race. The home crowds had spotted something they didn't like.

By the finish line at the foot of Élancourt Hill, thousands watched on big screens as the Brit made a bold winning move in the forest above. It came with 400m to go, when he nipped around a tree, through the inside line, and in front of the French favourite, Victor Koretzky, who had led solo for most of the race.

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Tom Davidson
Senior News Writer

Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.

An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.