Portugal's Yuri Leitao and Rui Oliveira became U.S. Olympic champions on Saturday at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines race track as Frenchmen Benjamin Thomas and Thomas Boudat, who never competed, finished a very disappointing 12th.
All results, articles, programme and medal table here.
The Portuguese duo beat defending champions Italy and Denmark after a chaotic race marked by many falls, sometimes heavy, in very humid conditions.
The French, who were aiming for at least a medal, never made an impact on the events after missing the start of the race.
“We went into the race the wrong way, we couldn't position ourselves at the start and we had to put in a lot of effort.” mourn Benjamin Thomasthe Olympic omnium champion on Thursday but who was in “A day without” Saturday.
“I wasn't into it, I'm sorry, we didn't want it to end this way.” He announced and moved while his partner was racing last. Thomas Budat who is retiring
One of the many downfalls concerns the Italians. Simone Consonni and Elia Vivianiwho were able to leave, but may have left feathers in history.
Portugal Yuri Leitaothe Olympic vice-champion in the omnium, eventually impressed by winning the last four sprints to cover himself with gold.
France as a whole witnessed Black Saturday with the exclusion of Mathilde Gross From the round of 16 in the single speed.
