Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Women’s cycling favourite Annemiek van Vleuten celebrates after finishing second

Forget the smile, this will become the most heartbreaking photo of the Tokyo Olympics. Here’s why.

Netherlands' Annemiek Van Vleuten celebrates after crossing the finish line thinking she had won gold only to be told she had come second.

Australian cycling has suffered another difficult day with our women failing to challenge the leaders in a gruelling road race to Mt Fuji.

Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer crossed the line first after a gruelling 147km race before collapsing onto the road wailing with happiness.

Tiffany Cromwell was the first Australian to cross the line in 26th, 2.56 minutes off the leader.

Netherlands' Annemiek Van Vleuten celebrates after thinking she won the women’s road race.

Teammate Sarah Gigante finished 8.23 minutes behind Keisenhoder in 40th while Grace Brown came home in 47th – Amanda Spratt is listed as DNF.

Keisenhofer, on Olympic debut, attacked early in the 147km race and finished 1.15 minutes ahead of race favourite Annemiek van Vleuten.

In heartbreaking scenes, a fist-pumping and cheering van Vleuten crossed the line in second thinking she had won gold.

The Dutch rider was visibly devastated after being informed by her team she had won silver.

Channel 7 commentator and four-time Olympian Anna Meares said it was a heartbreaking situation and questioned why the Dutch team had not done the maths and informed van Vleuten she was in second place.

The confusion could reignite debate about the banning of race radios for riders at Olympic Games.

The tough result for the Australian women comes after medal hopeful Richie Porte failed to fire in Saturday’s 244km road race from Tokyo to the foothill of Mt Fuji.

Originally published as Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Women’s cycling favourite Annemiek van Vleuten celebrates after finishing second