Tom Pidcock has criticised the French fans who booed him as he won gold in the Olympic men’s mountain bike race.
The Team GB cycling star overtook home favourite Vitor Koretzky in a daring move on the final lap to defend his Olympic title in dramatic fashion, having recovered from an early puncture.
Pidcock was jeered by partisan supporters as he crossed the line at Elancourt Hill and also received a few boos at his victory ceremony.
The 24-year-old said: ‘It’s a shame the French were booing me. That’s not really the spirit of the Olympics. But I do understand that the French are very passionate, they wanted Victor to win.
‘That was understandable. But they didn’t boo the rock that made me puncture.’
Pidcock took the lead in stunning fashion as he dramatically overtook France’s Victor Koretzky
On his last-gasp move to win the race, Pidcock added: ‘He left a gap and I had to go for it. In the end I had to go for a rubbing is racing gap – it’s what I have always done – and the Olympics is no different.
‘I’m sorry for him, the support for him was incredible but it’s the Olympics, you’ve got to go all in.’
Pidcock and Koretzky had battled for the lead in the final lap of a dramatic race at Elancourt Hill.
The defending champion had caught Koretzky after battling back from a 40 second deficit following an earlier puncture.
Koretzky launched an attack on the final lap to briefly distance Pidcock, but the 24-year-old stormed back to close the gap again.
Pidcock had also received some boos from French fans as he took to the podium
The British star took the lead in stunning fashion by edging ahead on a narrow section, with the rivals taking different routes on the path.
Pidcock and Koretzky nearly collided but avoided a crash, but the move proved key as the Briton pulled clear of the Frenchman to storm to the finish and win gold.
The French crowd, however, booed Pidcock as he crossed the line nine seconds clear of Koretzky, with the home favourite taking silver.
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