Haley Batten, who was not expected to contend for a medal in the mountain bike road race, produced the best-ever American finish in the cycling discipline.
Batten, who finished ninth at the 2020 Olympics, had to hold off four challengers for the silver medal near the end of the event.
France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot finished well ahead of the pack. Batten arrived at the finish line two minutes and 57 seconds behind the race winner.
The cyclists who finished between second and fifth places had just 30 seconds between them. Bronze medal winner Jenny Rissveds of Sweden came in just five seconds behind Batten.
The mountain bike road race has existed at the Summer Olympics since 1996, but before Batten’s silver, only two bronze medals were earned by Americans, both of which came in the women’s event.
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