Lake Forest Cyclist Competes In Tokyo Olympics With 'No Regrets'

LAKE FOREST, CA — As the Tokyo Olympics continue, Lake Forest resident Amber Neben was ready to ride Wednesday.

Two-time UCI Time Trial World Champion Amber Neben started the day for Team USA, USA Cycling reports.

In her 3rd Olympic appearance, Neben rode through the first time split with a time of 14:52.85, putting her in fifth place, according to USA Cycling.

She moved her way up to fourth by the second split but would finish fifth place on the day with a time of 31:26.13.

She was a mere eleven seconds out of a medal. She talked to USA Cycling about her race.

“I wasn't wearing a radio, so I didn't know where I was. I was honestly just riding as hard as I could and leaving it out there," she told the media. "I just wanted to make sure I finished, and I didn't have anything that I regretted and that I didn't have anything that I wish I would have done differently. I was just putting it all out there. I went hard to the top. I knew that was a big check, and then I knew I would have to hang on a little bit on the downhill, then hit it again hard on the track. That was my strategy, and I did what I could today.”

Anna van der Breggen (NED) and Marlen Reusser (SUI) earned silver and bronze, respectively. Race winner, Annemiek van Vleuten (NED), finished in a time of 30:13.49.

When asked about not reaching the podium, Neben said:

“I'm a little bit disappointed," Neben told USA Cycling. "I rode hard. I left it all out there. I was really hoping to medal today. It's hard when you're close but not quite there. No regrets. No complaints about my effort. It was good for today.”