Josh Tarling gives blunt two-word response as puncture denies cyclist Olympic time trial medal
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Great Britain’s Josh Tarling narrowly missed out on an Olympic bronze medal in the men’s individual time trial by just 2.16 seconds. Despite facing an early puncture and changing his bike while racing on a dangerous, rain-soaked 32.4-km course in Paris, the determined 20-year-old managed to make up time and challenge for a spot on the podium.
Unfortunately, Tarling fell just short, with Belgium’s Wout van Aert claiming bronze, Italy’s Filippo Ganna taking silver, and Remco Evenpoel securing gold for the Belgian team. The top four riders finished closely within 28 seconds of each other, leaving Tarling trailing behind at fifth place by an additional 35 seconds.
The time lost due to the mechanical issue of changing his bike cost Tarling the bronze medal, to which he responded with a casual, “Yes… Sh** happens, innit.” Despite the setback, Tarling plans to move forward and focus on the upcoming road race, acknowledging the incredible performances of his competitors and expressing his respect for the medal winners.
In a moment of triumph, Britain’s Anna Henderson clinched a remarkable silver in the women’s individual time trial, narrowly beating out third-placed Chloe Dygert by less than one second. While several riders faced crashes throughout the day, Henderson pushed through to record a time of 41 minutes 10.7 seconds over the challenging 32.4km course, earning her well-deserved recognition on the podium.
Reflecting on her achievement, Henderson shared, "I had half an eye on a dream on the podium, and I didn’t think I could come this far on the podium so I’m really pleased." Despite a season marred by injury and illness, two-time former world champion Dygert encountered a crash before the second intermediate time check, finishing just short of Henderson’s impressive performance.
Support truly independent journalism by contributing to our mission of delivering unbiased, fact-based reporting that upholds power to account and reveals the truth. Whether it’s $5 or $50, every contribution makes a difference in our commitment to journalism without an agenda.