RIDE LIKE AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION

For the first two weeks of August, the world was captivated by the thrilling spectacle of the Olympic Games. Athletes from every corner of the globe gathered in the heart of Paris to compete on the grandest stage in sports. Records shattered, legacies forged, and with an astounding haul of 126 medals, Team USA emerged as the dominant force of the Games.

Cycling was no exception to the excitement, as stars like Tom Pidcock, Kristen Faulkner, Remco Evenepoel, Chloe Dygert, Jennifer Valente, and Grace Brown stole the spotlight, claiming Olympic glory and etching their names into history.

In this journal, we dive into the cutting-edge gear these athletes used – gear you can find at Signature Cycles. Get ready to elevate your ride and bring a taste of Olympic excellence to your own cycling journey.

Kristen Faulkner + Nimbl

Kristen Faulkner was a last-minute addition to the USA women’s road team for the Paris Olympic Games – receiving the call to join the team in early July. But just a few weeks later, the 31-year-old American rider crossed the finish line beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower alone, with no other competitor in sight. It was Faulkner’s moment of triumph, as she crowned herself the new Olympic champion in the women’s road race. She had launched a decisive attack with 4 kilometers to go, breaking away from a small group of race favorites, including world champion Lotte Kopecky, Marianne Vos, and Blanka Vas. None could match her pace, and Faulkner soloed to victory, becoming the first American woman to win the Olympic road race in 40 years.

Beyond her national colors, Faulkner competes for the American Continental Women’s Team EF-Oatly-Cannondale, riding in some of the biggest races on the calendar, such as the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and the Vuelta a España Femenina. Surprisingly, Faulkner hasn’t been cycling all her life; she only started six years ago to get an “outdoor fix” while working in New York City as a venture capitalist. After dabbling in competitive racing for a few years, she left her full-time job in 2021 to become a professional athlete. Now, she is not only an Olympic gold medalist on the road but also on the track, where Team USA claimed gold in the Women’s Team Pursuit.

As part of her kit for EF-Oatly-Cannondale, Faulkner wears Nimbl shoes, specifically the high-performance Exceed Ultimate Glide model. These shoes have been her choice for not only her Olympic road race victory but also her wins at the USA National Championships, a Vuelta a España Femenina stage, and the overall title at Trofeo Ponente in Rosa.

Remco Evenepoel + Specialized

On the men’s side, 24-year-old Remco Evenepoel made history at the Paris Olympics, claiming gold in both the road race and the men’s individual time trial. The former world champion, Vuelta a España winner, and two-time Liège-Bastogne-Liège champion delivered a masterful solo performance, crossing the finish line in front of the Paris landmark a full minute and eleven seconds ahead of the runner-up. Evenepoel arrived at the Olympics fresh from three grueling weeks of racing in the Tour de France, where he covered 3,492 kilometers from Florence, Italy, to Nice on the Côte d’Azur. In his Tour debut, he finished third overall, won the first of two individual time trials, and claimed the white jersey for the best young rider.

Evenepoel's monumental achievements, both with his national Belgian squad and his professional team Soudal–Quick-Step, were accomplished on the S-Works Tarmac SL8. This bike has become synonymous with victory, as both Soudal–Quick-Step and SD Worx-Protime regularly ride it to podium finishes throughout the season. At Signature Cycles, we partner with Specialized to offer you a slice of that winning action – so you can ride like a pro and feel the thrill of racing success.

Lotte Kopecky + Maurten

The Belgian rider has been a dominant force over the past year, claiming multiple titles on the road. She ended the 2023 season as the world champion in Glasgow and secured a second-place finish in the general classification at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes. This season, her winning streak has continued with major victories in Classics races like Paris-Roubaix and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, an overall win at the Women’s Tour of Britain, and a second-place finish in the general classification at the Giro d’Italia. With such a stellar record, Lotte Kopecky entered the Olympics with her sights set on a medal in the women’s road race—and, true to form, she delivered. In a thrilling sprint to the finish, Kopecky battled her Dutch rival Marianne Vos for silver and bronze. Giving it everything she had, Kopecky secured the bronze medal in the 157.6 km road race. Just days earlier, she placed sixth in the women’s individual time trial and later competed on the track, finishing fourth in the women’s omnium.

In her SD Worx-Protime kit, Kopecky stays fueled with Maurten, the Swedish sports nutrition brand known for its use of natural ingredients to support hydration, energy, and recovery. Proper fueling is crucial in both riding and racing, and Kopecky herself credits some of her biggest wins, including Strade Bianche, to Maurten's nutrition. “I fueled really well, so I had that final punch,” she shared on the team’s website.

Maurten offers a range of products, including Gel 100 (25g carbs), Gel 160 (40g carbs), and Drink Mix 320 (80g carbs). The brand is widely respected, supporting not only SD Worx but also a host of other teams and athletes across different sports, including gravel cyclist Carolin Schiff, Olympic gold medalist runner Keely Hodgkinson, and world champion triathlete Lucy Charles-Barclay.

At Signature Cycles, we take pride in offering the same world-class gear that powers Olympic champions and top-tier athletes. In fact, we work one-on-one with some of the very best in the sport to fine-tune their performance, including the likes of Tejay van Garderen, Lisa Csencsits, and Ric Wolf. Whether you’re inspired by Kristen Faulkner's historic solo victory, Remco Evenepoel’s double triumph, or Lotte Kopecky’s relentless pursuit of excellence, our selection of bikes, shoes, and nutrition products are designed to help you achieve your best. Step into our store, and take the first step toward your own cycling success, equipped with the tools trusted by the best in the world.

Find out more about each product by visiting the Signature Cycles store in Greenwich, New York.