Olympics-Cycling-Nature calls as German Polit has to make use of Paris cafe facilities during race

By Julien Pretot and Geert De Clercq

PARIS (Reuters) – Back in the old days, until the mid-1960s, professional riders would stop at cafes to get food, water or even wine to refuel.

On Saturday, German Nils Politt made a similar pit stop when he stopped at the Cafe des deux Moulins, although it was to empty his bowels, not to fill up.

The 30-year-old was seen getting out of the bar on the rue Lepic at the bottom of the Butte Montmartre climb, jump over the barriers and remount his bike to finish the race 70th, almost 20 minutes behind gold medal winner Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.

“I did not count how much time it took me,” Politt told reporters after confirming he had to stop for a toilet break.

“It was really warm, we were drinking a lot of water, ate a lot of gels and normally I don’t have problems but today I had an upset stomach.”

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)