On day 14 of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Grant Koontz (Nederland, Colo.; Star Track Cycling) competed for Team USA in the Men’s Omnium which took place inside the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome. Koontz finished in 16th place after maximizing his points in a series of four mass-start races. These races include the Scratch Race, Tempo Race, Elimination Race, and Points Race
In this evening’s Omnium, the total number of points earned in the first three races is based on the rider’s finishing position within each respective event. These points are carried into the Points Race, where cumulative points are added to the rider’s starting score to determine the overall winner.
The Scratch Race was the first event of the Omnium. During the Scratch Race, athletes complete 40 laps and riders earn points based on the order in which they cross the finish line. Koontz put in a big attack at 19 laps to go which shattered the group but expended a lot of energy. Riders caught up to him with a few laps remaining, but he still finished in 15th place and earned 12 points.
The second race for Koontz was the Tempo Race where riders complete 40 laps, and after the first five laps, the winner of each lap earns a point. Riders get additional points for lapping the field, and the rider who racks up the most points wins the race. Fabio van den Bossche (BEL) was the first rider to lap the field. Koontz quickly chased up to the break and jumped to the front, earning his first point of the race. Koontz later lapped the field earning an additional 20 points. He finished the Tempo Race in 9th, earning him 24 points.
The third race is the Elimination Race where riders complete a series of laps and the last rider to cross the finish line every two laps is eliminated. The last rider standing is declared the winner and earns the most points. After making it through the first series of laps clean, Koontz was edged out at the line and was the fifth rider eliminated. He finished this race in 18th place and earned six additional points.
In the Points Race, the fourth and final event of the Omnium, riders start the race with point tallies earned from their finishing positions in the first three races. From there, they complete 100 laps and accumulate points during sprints that occur every ten laps and earn additional points for lapping the field. These points are added to their starting points, and the person with the most points at the end of this final race wins the Omnium. This unique structure means that riders with low starting points could feasibly fight for a medal.
Koontz started the Points Race with 42 points, 64 points behind Bossche, the leader with 106 points. Despite strong efforts during sprint laps and a powerful finish, Koontz was unable to earn additional points during the Points Race and finished the night in 16th place with 42 points. The winner, Benjamin Thomas of France, completed the race with 164 points, earning him the gold medal. Iuri Leitao of Portugal earned the silver, and Bossche of Belgium finished the evening with the bronze.
When asked about how it felt to be at his first Games Koontz said, “It’s a dream come true to be here. I spent the last few weeks reflecting on what it took to get here, all the years of sacrifice. It’s honestly a little disappointing to come and do what I just did but like I said I did the best I could.”
After the Games, Koontz will be focusing his attention on the UCI Track Cycling World Championships which will be held in Denmark later this year.
1. Benjamin Thomas (France)
2. Iuri Leitao (Portugal)
3. Fabio van den Bossche (Belgium)
16. Grant Koontz (United States of America)
Racing continues tomorrow with the Women’s Madison, where Jennifer Valente (San Diego; Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24) and Lily Williams (Tallahassee, Fla.; Human Powered Health) will be teaming up to compete for Team USA.
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