THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD: FAULKNER

Ex-venture capitalist, a late replacement in road race, wins gold after taking gamble

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First-time Olympian Kristen Faulkner of the United States was by no means the favourite to win the women's road race on the Paris streets on Aug 4, but in a three-way cycling strategy poker game, the former venture capitalist rode away with the gold medal.

In the final stages of the 158km contest, Faulkner sprinted away from a four-rider group that included the two favourites, Belgium's reigning world champion Lotte Kopecky and Dutch veteran Marianne Vos, one of the greatest of all time.

Faulkner did not initially qualify for the road race but on July 9, she replaced Taylor Knibb, who opted to focus on the time trial and triathlon.

She said: "I feel like it's a dream come true. It's the best feeling in the world and I don't know how to describe it... I had to double and triple check that I won gold. I knew it but I didn't know it." Kopecky and Vos - in the company of Hungary's Blanka Vas - knew full well that whoever led the chase to close the gap with Faulkner would not have the legs to win the final sprint under the Eiffel Tower.