Huge disappointment for Benjamin Thomas.
In omnium, a discipline of track cycling, the French rider, who was aiming for a medal in Tokyo, had his place on the podium stolen on the last lap of the last event.
For his first Olympic Games, the Groupama-FDJ rider could still aim for the gold medal before the start of the points race.
Everything fell apart on the last lap, when New Zealand's Campbell Stewart caught up with the peloton on the last loop of the Izu Velodrome.
20 additional points for Stewart who took the Frenchman off the podium just a few dozen meters from the finish.
A chocolate medal with a very bitter taste.
🚲 🇫🇷 On the provisional podium since the 1st of the 4 Open races, Benjamin Thomas is content with 4th place after Stewart's feat at the end of the points race.
Matthew Walls is golden # Tokyo2020 #Olympic
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- francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 5, 2021
A fateful points race
In a very complete event (scratch, tempo, elimination race, points race), the Frenchman finished second in the first two series.
Leading the standings at that point, the 2020 world champion conceded some ground during the playoff race, finishing only 6th.
In third position before the start of the points race, the French rider competed for the silver medal with Italian sprinter Élia Viviani before the New Zealander surprised Thomas by scoring 20 more points on the last lap.
It is a fourth place for Benjamin Thomas on the Open.
He will have a second chance to win a medal, over the American.
pic.twitter.com/BCH6k70pam
- Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team (@GroupamaFDJ) August 5, 2021
Unable to take a lap in the peloton, the French scored only 12 points in this last event. A total of 118 insufficient points for the Tarnais. In front of him, Viviani kept 6 points ahead to keep bronze. Campbell Stewart, author of a formidable comeback with 51 points in the last race, will seek the silver behind the untouchable Matthew Walls, in gold, far ahead of his competitors (24 pts ahead of the 2nd). The 26th distinction in the hands of the French delegation, after that provided by Steven Da Costa this Thursday in karate, will therefore wait a little longer.