PARIS – Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel won the gold medal in the men’s road race at the Olympics in stunning fashion on Saturday, becoming the first male rider to do so after also winning the time trial.

Evenepoel suffered a mechanical failure in his Louvre Car four kilometres from the finish line, raising his arm for assistance, then applauding and waving to his team for a new motorcycle.

But the change was made quickly and he raced towards the finish line after making the decisive move 15km from the finish line in preparation for the second of the three tough climbs of the Butte Montmartre.

Valentin Madouas, who was 1:15 behind when Evenepoel crashed, was left breathless with his fierce attack, but the French rider won the silver medal after 273 kilometers.

Evenepoel raised his arm again in the final kilometre, but this time it was in pre-celebration before getting off his bike as he crossed the finish line to pose for a photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background. REUTERS