Paris had a wealth of options to show off the city when it came to the men's and women's Olympic road races. But with its three-lap finishing circuit passing through the historic Montmartre neighbourhood, the games struck pure gold.
Historically, La Butte Montmartre has been home to les classes populaires, the modest working classes, artists and bohemians. It was here where the Paris Commune fostered some of its strongest contingents in the mid-19th century, while artists like Henri Toulouse-Lautrec celebrated the figures of the late-night cabarets and Pablo Picasso spent his first years in Paris working in the Le Bateau Lavoir, a labyrinth of artist studios that played a central role to painters and sculptures on Montmartre for decades.
In a modern sense, cycling is one of the world’s most popular sports, as it remains free to spectators and offers unparalleled proximity for fans seeking a glimpse of their favourite athletes. But this year’s Olympic road races were a success beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, as fans from around the world packed the slopes of Montmartre to celebrate the sport of cycling and the Olympic spirit.
Rouleur photojournalist James Startt was on hand for the men’s and women’s road races, walking up and down the slopes of the magnificent neighbourhood and revelling in the festive mood that permeated.
The mood heats up as the riders approach the summit of Montmartre.
A sea of fans cheer the leaders as they pass under the shadows of Sacre Coeur for the first of three laps. Already eventual winner Remco Evenepoel (second from left) can be seen riding easily near the front.
The pack is strung out as it races over the summit of Montmartre. It goes without saying that the riders had little time to enjoy the views of Paris that stretched out below.
Heavy pre-race favorite Mathieu van der Poel (R) had little room to run as Wout Van Aert (L) quickly covered any moves he made.
After making his winning move, Remco Evenepoel is alone at the front as he climbs up the narrow streets of Montmartre one final time. Here, hundreds of fans chanted "Remco, Remco," as Evenepoel passed by Le Consulat, one of the historic eateries and watering holes found here.
French rider Valentin Madouas chases Evenepoel past the cabaret dancers of the historic Moulin Rouge. The dancers wore the bleu, blanc and rouge national colours as the 28-year-old raced towards an impressive silver medal. (Photo: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom)
Local residents break out the colours for the French riders at the foot of rue Lepic, which climbs up towards Sacre Coeur.
The leaders of the women's road race power up Rue Lepic for the first time on Sunday under the shadows of the historic Moulin de la Galette, one of several wind mills still found on the slopes of Montmartre, and the only one that is still apparently in working condition. Already eventual winner Kristen Faulkner from the US team, could be seen powering away at the front.
Fans packed the Rue Lepic for both the men's and women's races.
The lead pack approaches the summit of Montmartre in the women's road race.
Fans cheered every rider all day long, even those dropped early.
Still in the lead as she attacked the final climb, Marianne Vos appeared set to capture a second gold medal in the Olympic road race after her victory in London in 2012. Eventually caught, the 37-year-old would have to settle for silver.
American Kristen Faulkner leads the chasing group up the first pitches of the final climb.
Kristen Faulkner turns onto Rue Lepic for one final climb. The 31-year-old American came into the women's road race as an outsider at best, but she had the race of a lifetime, simply overpowering and outwitting her competition throughout the day.
"Allez les Bleus!" French fans root for the home team in the women's road race. Little did it matter that the French women came up short at the finish, it was a great day to be a bike fan on Montmartre.
