Not even a flat tire or broken wheel could stop Haley Batten, who is on a mission to succeed in the mountain bike cross-country race at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the 25-year-old did just that at Elancourt with the best result in US history in the Olympic MTB competition She won a stunning silver medal.

Batten was in the back group of Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Roana Lecomte (both from France), and Pak Peterse (Netherlands) on lap 4 when she suddenly disappeared from the broadcast. She later revealed that she had “destroyed” her rear wheel and was forced to limp to the technical area for a wheel change.

“I had a flat tire and today I broke a wheel. I caught up to Roana [Lecomte] and was close to the bronze medal when I broke the wheel.” [I was worried that I had lost my chance for a medal today. But I was very calm, my mind was where it needed to be and I gave it everything I had today.”

“I'm surprised I'm still standing.

The American rider fought hard “with everything in me,” overtaking several riders and rejoining the chase duo of Laura Stigger (Austria) and Jenny Risbeds (Sweden) on lap 5. Benefiting from Pieterse's puncture, he eventually overtook former Olympic champion Lisvedis to take the silver medal behind the dominating Ferran Prevot.

There was talk of protests from the Dutch team after Batten passed through the feeding zone without drinking her bottle, but she was only fined 500 Swiss francs for the incident and was not challenged by Lisvedis, who finished third.

She paid great tribute to the mechanics who made such a quick changeover, and also praised Lisvedes for helping to bring out the higher level in a tense hour and a half battle The two competed hard, but it was Pieterse and Evie Richard (GBR) who took the bronze medal, They ran well together to keep up with the silver medal contenders.

“Me and Jenny [Lisbeth] have fought in every race this year. She has made me a better racer. When we came together in the last two laps, I knew it would be really, really hard to beat her and I put everything I had into today's race,” Batten said.

“When she made a couple of big attacks, I thought I was burning the match a little too much. I had something special in me today. My legs didn't hurt. I don't know why, but I wanted to win very, very badly.”

Batten paid great tribute to his USA MTB predecessors, especially two-time Olympian Lee Davison and London 2012 bronze medalist Georgia Gould.

After a podium finish at the 2022 World Championships Cross Country, her 2023 season was derailed by a concussion. She was again full of gratitude for the help of USA Cycling coach and three-time Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong.

“I wanted to focus on this race, having made the podium at the World Championships last year and qualified for the Olympics the year before. But I got injured and suffered a concussion. I had to skip that race,” Batten said.

“But I have the best coach in the world, Kristin Armstrong. She has won three gold medals in the time trial events and knows how to perform on the day. She's won three gold medals in time trial events and knows how to perform on the day. She's been preparing for this race for years, more than just physically.

“I think it's all about the preparation on the day, emotionally and physically.

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