Published: 12th Aug 2024 Images: Scottish Cycling

Reflecting on a Seine-sational Olympic Games

As we say Bonsoir to Paris after a marvellous Olympic Games in the French capital, we thought it was time to have to have a retour de Paris.

Three Scottish cyclists were selected for the Olympics, with debutant Charlie Aldridge joining Tokyo medallists Neah Evans and Jack Carlin, with Mark Stewart travelling with the squad as a reserve for the track events.

Following on from a very different Opening Ceremony, and no we’re not calling it ‘Seine-sational’, the MTB Cross Country was first up on Monday 29th July, where Charlie Aldridge would make his Olympic debut on Elancourt Hill, in one of the most spectacular MTB races of all-time.

After a strong start, which saw Aldridge in medal contention, the Under-23 World Champion would support Tom Pidcock as he recovered from a puncture to win a marvellous gold. Despite a late crash, a strong performance from the Crieff man saw him claim eighth on the day, and we’re pretty confident he has a very bright future ahead of him.

The second week of the Games saw the Velodrome National take centre stage, with Jack Carlin the first of the Scots to go in the Team Sprint.

As the last rider in a youthful Great Britain squad, Carlin produced a sensational performance in qualifying to ensure a spot in the medal finals. Silver would be the prize after the trio came up against the indominable Dutch – who set a new world record no less.

Carlin’s Sprint campaign would produce some of the most dramatic moments of the entire Olympics. After breaking his own British record in qualifying with a 9.247 for the Flying 200m, the Scot progressed into a Last 16 tie against Nicholas Paul – who defeated him at the Commonwealth Games two years ago.

0.004 would be the gap that separated the two, with Carlin progressing through into a quarter final with Kaiya Ota of Japan.

After narrowly missing out in the first of three heats, the Scot had lost in a feisty battle in the second heat – which looked to have knocked him out the competition. However, he would be reinstated after video evidence showed Ota headbutted Carlin in the final lap, meaning it would go to a decider. A thrilling finale would end with Jack progressing into the semi-finals.

Defeat to triple Paris gold medallist Harrie Lavreysen, meant Jack would contest a bronze medal match-up against the World Kilometre Champion Jeffrey Hoogland. After trading blows, the Bronze Medal would come down to a decider.

After a coming together, which aborted the sprint on the first attempt, Carlin led the sprint out from over a lap to go and managed to hold the Dutchman on his hip the whole way, claiming one of the most dramatic bronzes seen over the fortnight in France.

Tears flowing post-race, and on the podium, he admitted afterwards:

“It’s been a tough couple of months after what happened in Canada [a big crash] – they’ve probably been the hardest in my career trying to get back to full health. The support team I’ve had – Katie my physio who you might have seen hugging me there at the end, piecing me back together.

“Having my friends and family here, in comparison to Tokyo – I think that’s what set me off. Having that support there – they’ve been my absolute rock this last three months, and it’s got me to where I am.

A horrific crash, which he was fortunately able to walk away from, dashed his hopes of a fifth Olympic medal in the Keirin final, but it will certainly be a Games to be remembered fondly for Jack.

Neah Evans was in action in the bunch events on the track, with the Aberdeenshire native reuniting with Elinor Barker in the Madison, the duo having won gold in Glasgow 12 months prior, and looking to retain Great Britain’s gold medal from Tokyo.

After the Celtic duo made a strong start to the event, lap gains by Italy and the Netherlands would place gold out of sight. A late attack by Evans and Barker would see them take the final sprint though, and with the double points that provides they usurped the Netherlands to claim a brilliant silver.

— Scottish Cycling (@ScottishCycling) August 9, 2024

A call-up to the Omnium only came weeks before the Games due to the injury to Katie Archibald, but a battling performance throughout, after an early crash, saw her come home 15th.

Also making an unexpected, but well-deserved Olympic debut was Mark Stewart, the former Discovery Junior rider received a late call up to ride the Men’s Madison with Ollie Wood, where the duo would come ninth after a crash took out Wood in the closing stages of one of the craziest madisons in memory.

On becoming an Olympian, the Dundonian said:

“It’s really special to be an Olympian. Four years ago, I thought that dream was gone and I’d kind of made my peace with that. To be standing here – 24 hours ago I still didn’t think it would be the case – it’s so special.”

“How many people even get one shot at being on the British Cycling programme, let alone two, and that’s testament to me, as a I work hard, but it’s also testament to the opportunities I’ve been given and the people who’ve opened doors for me. Scottish Cycling have supported me in so many ways, not just financially, and without that I wouldn’t have got back to where I am.”

With four excellent Olympians, producing three medals over the two disciplines, it’s been one great Olympic Games for Scotland’s cyclists, with David Somerville, Scottish Cycling Head of Performance and Coaching, saying:

“Congratulations to Charlie, Jack, Neah and Mark on tremendous Games performances.  Each one of them has their own story on how they reached the Olympic Games, each with their own unique challenges that they have overcome.

“They each delivered performances they should be proud of, and know that everyone in the Scottish Cycling community is proud of them.  They picked the Olympic torch that previous Scottish riders have carried before them and are outstanding role models for our riders of the future.”

With only just over a fortnight until the Paralympics get underway in Paris, we can’t wait to do it all again with Neil Fachie, Fin Graham and pilot Jenny Holl all going for gold!

If you haven’t already, you can read about all our Olympian and Paralympian’s journeys via our special edition newspaper