'I'm probably the worst bike handler out there': Taylor Knibb crashes four times in Olympics time trial
American jokes that she 'might not be allowed back' to time trialling after crash-stricken performance
Despite crashing four times in a rain-soaked Paris Olympics time trial, Taylor Knibb was surprisingly jolly when she described herself as "probably the worst bike handler" in the field.
The American, better known for her triathlon career, finished 19th out of 34 riders on Saturday, in what was only her third-ever time trial event.
After the race, Knibb walked through the media zone with a towel around her shoulders, two bandaged knees, and an unexpected smile on her face.
How had she found it? "It was an experience," the 26-year-old told Cycling Weekly. "The first third was great. The middle one, that's where it all went wrong. And then the third one it was more survival than anything else. I was fully blind, my Garmin fell off on the first one. I'm like, 'Well, here we go!'"
Rain fell throughout the day in the French capital, making the already bumpy roads even more treacherous to navigate.
Knibb's first crash came around the 14km mark, on the same roundabout where Denmark's Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig hit the floor moments before. The big screens by the finish line on Pont Alexandre III then kept cutting back to the American, each time the victim of a different tumble.
Even Knibb herself was unsure about how many times she crashed during her effort. "We can count them," she said. "Number one, I went around the roundabout, I got up, went into the motorbike immediately. Is that one or two [crashes]? I went around on a turn, then I think I came down a fourth time, I guess, and then I changed my bike."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"On the first one, my left brake was gone, back brake wasn't really working. So whenever I'd go into a turn, it would kind of fishtail. Then at that point, I was like, 'This isn't safe for me to ride.' I was scared to stop, but you have to slow down, I guess."
Knibb then went on to reveal some advice her coach had given her, which, in hindsight, she found "very ironic".
"He said, 'Taylor, you do not want to try and go around the corner too fast and end up falling down, because that will make you go slower, obviously.' So I didn't really heed his advice super, super well," she laughed. "But you get up and you keep going."
The American will now take that attitude into Wednesday's triathlon, an event for which she is among the favourites. Pointing down at her bloodied leg, she smiled and said: "This will test out the water quality [of the Seine].
"Regardless of what happened today, hopefully I'll continue the sport [of road cycling]. But who knows, I might not be allowed back."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
-
Is Lotte Kopecky's bog-standard Specialized Crux proof that you don't need wide tires and fancy suspension systems for gravel racing?
Kopecky finished second at Gravel Worlds on a bike with minimal modifications
By Joe Baker Published
-
Undercover Mechanic: Cyclists have become very excited about aerodynamics without a correlated excitement for pilates - the result is a lot of spacers
90% of the front area is you, not the bike; having a kamtail downtube will make sod all difference if you’re unable to reach the bars, argues CW’s Undercover Mechanic
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
Trophies on wheels: a look at the uniquely painted bikes gifted to the 2024 Olympic champions
Remco Evenepoel, Kristen Faulkner and Grace Brown received bikes that shine as brightly as the golden medals themselves
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Olympic champion Tom Pidcock confirmed for mountain bike world title defence
Pidcock to head up British team at Andorra World Championships next week
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Which nation picked up the most Olympic cycling medals?
Who was top of the table at the end of the Olympics?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jennifer Valente crushes the Omnium at Paris Olympics
US rider defends her title in style as Great Britain's Neah Evans finishes down in 15th
By Patrick Fletcher Published
-
Bronze for Emma Finucane as Andrews and Lavreysen crowned golden sprinters of Paris Olympics
Andrews beats Finucane en route to Individual Sprint gold, while Lavreysen collects third gold in a Keirin marred by Jack Carlin crash
By Patrick Fletcher Published
-
Dog walker, lifeguard, and now Olympian: Mark Stewart's unorthodox path to the Paris Olympics
The Scot received a late call-up to race the Madison, and added another job title to his long CV
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Madison mayhem as Great Britain taken out in crash-ridden race at Paris Olympics
Ollie Wood 'ploughed into' by Jan-Willem van Schip as Portugal prevail, while Emma Finucane marches on in the Sprint
By Patrick Fletcher Published
-