American Kristen Faulkner pedals to gold in Olympic cycling road race

(Photo credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports)

PARIS -- American Kristen Faulkner pulled off a major upset as she won the women's road-race gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, making the most of the top riders' mind games to snatch the biggest victory of her career.

Faulkner, along with Belgian Lotte Kopecky, caught the leading duo ofDutch great Marianne Vos and Hungarian Blanka Vas with 3.4 kilometers remainin