Young Brit wins Tokyo mountain bike race
Thomas Pidcock has delivered Great Britain a history-making triumph in Izu City, becoming the youngest ever Olympic mountain-biking champion.
The 21-year-old Pidcock was a picture of composure during the 28.25km race, leading throughout the second half of the race to finish 20 seconds ahead of nearest rival Mathias Flueckiger.
A misstep from Flueckiger, who momentarily got off his bike while navigating a climb, helped Pidcock enhance his lead over the Swiss silver medallist to 11 seconds after the fifth of seven laps.
Spaniard David Valero Serrano finished strongly to snatch bronze, consigning Rio 2016 champion Nino Schurter to fourth place.
Australian Dan McConnell, whose wife Bec looms as a medal contender in Tuesday's race at the same venue, finished 30th.
Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel and Czech Ondrej Cink failed to finish but there was no late drama for Pidcock on the challenging 4.1km course.
Pidcock is the first Brit to claim a mountain-biking Olympic medal, while he bettered Jenny Rissveds' win in Rio at age 22 to become the youngest competitor to win the men's or women's event at a Games.
The opening minute of the race was marred by gold-medal contender van der Poel's crash.
Van der Poel, who like Pidcock is a multi-discipline marvel, was competing after wearing the leader's yellow jersey for six days during an impressive Tour de France debut this year.
The 26-year-old went over the handlebars while attacking Sakura Drop, a tricky section that the race guide ominously predicted would have riders "hurtling out from atop a ridge as if they were cherry blossom petals soaring over Mount Fuji".
Van der Poel, whose father finished seventh in the road race at Moscow 1980, got back on his bike before pulling out of the race during his fifth lap.
