Elise Chabbey is the clear Swiss leader in the women's Olympic road race. However, two factors are diminishing her chances: a crash at the Giro and the course through Paris being too flat.
04.08.2024, 05:00
04.08.2024, 08:36
SDA
Enthusiasm sounds different. "It lacks difficulty for me," regrets Elise Chabbey. "It's too flat and technically too easy." Nevertheless, the 31-year-old from Geneva is the biggest Swiss trump card in Sunday's 158 km bike race through the streets of Paris.
Her chance could lie in the three short climbs over the cobblestones in the tourist district of Montmartre. The profile is similar to last year's World Championships in Glasgow, when Chabbey rode to 7th place after a long solo ride. Back then, however, she also benefited from the fact that all eyes of the favorites were on Marlen Reusser, who is missing this time after her viral infection. Now she is the team leader and is supported by Elena Hartmann, Noemi Rüegg and Linda Zanetti.
Taking a risk
There are a total of nine smaller climbs with a total of 1,800 meters of elevation gain, so Chabbey still has ambitions. "If the field shrinks, anything can happen," believes the Romande. "You have to try something and take your chances."
In addition to the less than ideal course profile, Chabbey also struggled with sub-optimal preparation. On July 12, she crashed at the Giro and broke two ribs and part of her foot. "I'm certainly not at 100 percent," she says, "but I'm feeling much better again and under these circumstances I'm happy with my form."
Different attitude than in 2012
In any case, the Geneva native assures us that she is tackling her second Olympic Games "with a completely different attitude" than the first. In 2012, she competed in the kayak slalom in London as a teenager and finished in second last place. "I was still young back then and knew that I wasn't competitive. This time I definitely am."
