Gold medalist Netherlands' Annemiek Van Vleuten celebrates on the podium of the women's cycling road individual time trial during the Tokyo Olympics
Annemiek Van Vleuten said she had to 'park the negativity' from social media
INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images
  • A cyclist who wrongly thought she had won gold in her first Olympic race, actually did in her 2nd.
  • Annemiek van Vleuten falsely celebrated winning the women's road race Sunday, but actually came second.
  • In Tuesday's time trial, however, van Vleuten won outright, finishing almost a minute in the lead.
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A Dutch cyclist who mistakenly thought she won an Olympic gold medal only to be told she had been beaten has now won a gold of her own.

Annemiek van Vleuten raised her arms in victory at the conclusion of Sunday's women's road race, but her celebrations were cut short when she learned that another rider had finished more than a minute ahead of her, and that she'd actually finished second.

A rule banning the use of radios during the race meant the 38-year-old had no idea that underdog Anna Kiesenhofer had already crossed the finish line, having earlier broken away from the pack and built such a substantial lead that no one seemed to realize she was ahead.

Annemiek van Vleuten celebrated thinking she'd won the Olympic title, but later found out she came second.
The Dutch rider raised her arms in celebration, unaware she had come in second
Ronald Hoogendoorn/BSR Agency/Getty Images

However, just a few days later the Dutch rider, who is competing at her first Olympic Games, turned disappointment to joy and earned her first Olympic gold of her career.

She triumphed in the women's individual time trial, finishing 56.47 seconds ahead of the Swiss rider Marlen Reusser who took silver. Van Vleuten's teammate Anna van der Breggen finished in third, despite a pre-race run in with security.

Speaking after the race, van Vleuten said she had to "park the negativity" around her on social media following the mistaken celebration in the road race.

"I knew after the road race that I was in super, super shape and everyone was talking about everything else and what happened there," van Vleuten said after the medal ceremony.

"I didn't check Twitter, I didn't check any social media, I just took that message into my preparation.

"It was a new challenge to park the negativity that was around me. That was the challenge."

Van Vleuten's gold medal triumph is the high point in a calamitous few days for the Dutch cycling team which included her false celebration, Anna van der Breggen's security issues, and a practice crash with an official for BMX rider Niek Kimmann, who may now miss his event.

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