As with the women's race, the men's Olympic cross-country race starts quickly. Alan Hatherly leads the field at the beginning, with the many favorites behind him, including Mathias Flückiger, Nino Schurter, defending champion Tom Pidcock, as well as the big challengers of the host country France, Jordan Sarrou and Victor Koretzky, but also the German Luca Schwarzbauer or the US U23 rider Riley Amos.

On lap two, Flückiger takes the scepter and ensures that the field gradually separates. Just under a lap later, the leading group is 13 strong, with all the top favorites on board. It is a good ten seconds ahead of the first chasers when Tom Pidcock seizes the moment. The Brit attacked with an incredible acceleration and immediately opened up a gap. Flückiger is somewhat taken by surprise and is soon unable to follow, but Victor Koretzky does. The British-French duo powered away and within a short time had a lead of around 20 seconds over the South African Hatherly.

However, the constellation did not last long. Koretzky suddenly appears alone at the front, Pidcock has to change his bike due to a puncture. Behind Hatherly, a chasing trio has now formed with Flückiger, Sam Gaze (NZL) and the Brit Charlie Aldridge, while his compatriot Pidcock successfully continues his chase and is close to catching up. Schurter, on the other hand, is struggling and gradually falling behind.

The sixth lap has begun and Victor Koretzky is still leading by an even 13 seconds ahead of Alan Hatherly. Behind him, however, Pidcock tore the chasing group apart and soon closed the gap to the South African. However, this was not enough for the defending champion, who also closed the gap to Koretzky on lap seven and attacked again a little later, but the trio remained together.

Alan Hatherly, Tom Pidcock and Victor Koretzky began the final lap together. Just behind them, Luca Braidot lurks in fourth position, while Flückiger is alone in fifth but out of reach of the medals. As expected, Pidcock begins with attacks again, but these are parried by his two colleagues. Koretzky counterattacks on the next lap and pulls away, makes a mistake and Pidcock closes in. But the Frenchman does not give up and tries again. But Pidcock closes the gap again in the last section of forest and while Koretzky takes the outside line in a bend, the Briton seizes the moment and narrowly snatches the lead. Koretzky, however, tries to prevent this with a hard swerve and gets himself into trouble in the process.

Tom Pidcock pulls away and becomes Olympic champion for the second time, this time to boos from the French fans - unjustly! Alan Hatherly wins bronze ahead of Luca Braidot and Mathias Flückiger. Nino Schurter fights through and finishes ninth. The two Germans Julian Schelb and Luca Schwarzbauer finish 15th and 16th, Austrian Max Foidl is 22nd.

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