Comeback Pid Tom Pidcock wins Paris 2024 Olympics GOLD after incredible fightback from flat tyre to stun French rival

TOM PIDCOCK thrillingly retained his mountain bike cross-country Olympic title – despite suffering from a puncture.

Two weeks after he was forced to quit the Tour de France after being struck down by Covid, the Leeds rider, 24, claimed back-to-back gold medals.

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Tom Pidcock heroically won another gold for Team GB in ParisCredit: Reuters

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He won the cycling mountain bike cross-country eventCredit: Getty

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Pidcock saw his gold medal dreams almost go up in smoke after his front tyre got punctured

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The 24-year-old had to fight back from almost 40 seconds behind to catch race leader Victor Koretzky

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Pidcock's fight back saw him collide with Frenchman Koretzky

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Pidcock squeezed past Koretzky for a clear sprint to the line

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Pidcock celebrated by kissing his girlfriend

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Pidcock has now won back to back Olympic goldsCredit: Getty

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Emotional Pidcock was joined on the podium by Koretzky and Alan Hatherly

As temperatures topped 28 degrees, Pidcock led the race after three laps but then surrendered 36 seconds when his front wheel burst and he needed mechanics to fit a replacement.

The officials raced around desperately to fix the issue but Pidcock remained relaxed and was not waving his arm around in anger.

Amazingly, he fought his way back through the field to overtake Frenchman Victor Koretzky and also held off South Africa rival Alan Hatherly.

On the final lap, he battled with Koretzky – the pair exchanged the lead a few times – and it got so fierce that they collided.That proved decisive as Pidcock used his momentum to power home.

Though his remarkable comeback was met by with jeers from the home crowd after they saw Pidcock's and Koretzky's fierce battle on the TV.

The way he managed to put aside the tyre mishap and claim the glory is testament to his character and his mountain biking skills.

There was a wonderful image of him taking on a jump as he had a water bottle in his mouth

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This victory represents Britain’s first individual gold medal of the Paris Olympics.

But he will not have much time to rest as he has the road race to target on Saturday.

When Pidcock won the title in Tokyo, albeit with no fans on the course due to Covid restrictions, the result happened just two months after being hit by a CAR.

The gravely Elancourt Hill course – riders have to negotiate eight laps – was bone dry and was described pre-event as “bland” by Pidcock.

Pidcock's win is one of the most remarkable in Team GB history

By Rob Maul

IT WAS a bland course but not a bland race 

That was one of the greatest, most exciting race wins for a British star in Olympic history.

In boiling heat, Pidcock edged out Victor Koretzky on the final metres.

The way he went for the race line as they went opposite sides of a tree was something F1 rider Max Verstappen would have been proud of.

They collided and he was booked by the French fans as their man settled for silver.

If we are making comparisons to F1 then the pitstop midway through was not very good.

The mechanics were a bit slow to deal with Pidcock's front-wheel puncture but the Leeds cyclist showed his true Yorkshire grit on the gravel.

Well, it was a case of BLAND of Hope and Glory for the Ineos Grenadiers cyclist.

His medal exploits follow Laura Collett securing Britain's first gold of the games in the evening jumping team final.

Team GB's great day also saw Tom Daley and Noah Williams win silver in the men's synchronised 10m diving platform.