Chloe Dygert's dreams of a gold medal in the women's time trial at the 2024 Paris Olympics appeared to have been ended by a crash, but the American made no excuses for her loss to Australian Grace Brown on Saturday. [She simply admitted she was wrong, saying that the treacherous conditions that saw Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Taylor Knibb (USA) fall were favorable for her.

“I didn't set up well. I went in sliding.

“It was a good race,” Daigert told reporters, including CyclingNews, at the finish line.

“I like this weather. I like the temperature, so I can't complain about anything. But I hit my leg on the frame and I knew right away that I had cramps going on in my leg. So there were definitely moments here and there where I lost a little bit of power.

Dygert was five seconds ahead of Brown at the first intermediate time check, but was 51 seconds slower than the Australian in T2 and 1:32 slower at the finish. However, the crash cost her a bronze medal instead of silver, and she finished one second slower than Britain's Anna Henderson.

“The two girls in front of me were great athletes and great riders,” said Henderson. And it's really great that Grace was able to finish her last full year with a strong run."

”I'm really happy to be here. So I'm really happy to be here, and of course it's hard not to be on the top step.”

As a competitor, Daigert was of course disappointed, but pleased with the team that has helped him recover from a series of setbacks since his career-threatening fall at the 2020 Imola World Championships.

“Honestly, I would say yes for them, but no for me,” Daigert replied when asked if he was happy considering where he was four years ago. [I don't go to races to lose, and I'm not going to say I'm a sore loser. But everyone comes out to win.

“I want to win and I don't want to lose. But I appreciate and support all the riders. The rider of the day is better, that's all that matters. I have to improve; I have to be better.

As in most races since her foot injury, Dygert was barely able to cross the finish line, writhing in pain as she was helped to the mixed zone. Thankfully, she did not rule out participating in next weekend's road race or any upcoming track cycling events.

“My legs definitely hurt, but I have great hands holding me up right now. So I'm going to go home and take care of it as best I can so I can start the road race and Team Pursuit again,” Dygert said.

“Of course I'm disappointed, but I'm very blessed to be here and I'm ready for the next race and planning for the World Championships. And we're going to make it to the next Olympics.” [Unlimited access to all coverage of the 2024 Olympics, including breaking news and analysis from journalists on the ground for all road, mountain bike, track, and BMX races. Details.