The 2024 Summer Olympics, set in the historic and vibrant city of Paris, promises to deliver an exciting array of cycling competitions.
With a rich history in the Olympic Games and a comprehensive set of events across multiple disciplines, cycling will undoubtedly be a highlight of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
History of Cycling at the Olympics
Cycling has been a part of the modern Olympic Games since its inception in 1896. The inaugural Games in Athens featured road races and track cycling events, marking the beginning of cycling’s storied Olympic journey.
Over the years, the sport has evolved, with new disciplines and events being added, reflecting the changing landscape of competitive cycling.
- Early Years (1896-1928): The early Olympic Games saw the inclusion of track cycling, with road races added in subsequent editions. The 1908 London Games expanded the track events, setting the stage for future competitions.
- Post-War Era (1948-1972): After a hiatus during the World Wars, cycling re-emerged with new vigor. The 1948 London Games were significant for the introduction of team pursuit in track cycling.
- Modern Era (1984-Present): The 1984 Los Angeles Games marked a turning point with the inclusion of women’s road race events. The 1996 Atlanta Games introduced mountain biking, while BMX made its debut in the 2008 Beijing Games. BMX freestyle was added in the 2020 Tokyo Games, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity.
Rules and Regulations
Cycling events at the Olympics are governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The UCI sets the standards for race formats, equipment, and athlete eligibility. Each discipline has specific rules:
- Road Cycling: Road races and time trials require cyclists to cover long distances on varied terrain. Drafting is allowed in road races but not in time trials.
- Track Cycling: Held on velodromes, track cycling includes sprint, pursuit, keirin, omnium, and Madison events. The races are characterized by high speeds and tactical riding.
- Mountain Biking: This discipline involves off-road racing on rough terrain, requiring both endurance and technical skills.
- BMX Racing: A short, intense race on a dirt track with jumps and obstacles. Riders compete in heats, with the fastest advancing to the finals.
- BMX Freestyle: Athletes perform tricks and stunts in a park setting, judged on difficulty, originality, and execution.
Venues
The 2024 Summer Olympics will utilize four distinct venues for cycling events:
- Pont d’Iéna: This iconic location in the heart of Paris will host the road cycling and time trial races, offering a picturesque backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.
- Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines: A world-class facility located southwest of Paris, it will be the venue for track cycling and BMX racing.
- Élancourt Hill: Situated in the Yvelines department, this venue is tailored for mountain biking, with challenging courses designed to test the athletes’ limits.
- Place de la Concorde: One of Paris’s most famous squares, it will host the BMX freestyle events, integrating the sport into the urban landscape of the city.
Cycling Schedule at the 2024 Summer Olympics
The cycling competitions are scheduled to run from July 27 to August 11, 2024. Below is a detailed schedule of the events:
| Date | Discipline | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 27 | Road Cycling | Men’s Road Race | Pont d’Iéna |
| July 28 | Road Cycling | Women’s Road Race | Pont d’Iéna |
| July 29 | BMX Racing | Men’s and Women’s Time Trials | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| July 30 | Track Cycling | Team Sprint, Team Pursuit | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| July 31 | Track Cycling | Individual Sprint, Keirin | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| August 1 | Track Cycling | Omnium, Madison | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| August 2 | Mountain Biking | Men’s Cross-Country | Élancourt Hill |
| August 3 | Mountain Biking | Women’s Cross-Country | Élancourt Hill |
| August 4 | Road Cycling | Men’s Time Trial | Pont d’Iéna |
| August 5 | Road Cycling | Women’s Time Trial | Pont d’Iéna |
| August 6 | BMX Racing | Men’s and Women’s Finals | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| August 7 | BMX Freestyle | Men’s and Women’s Qualifiers | Place de la Concorde |
| August 8 | BMX Freestyle | Men’s and Women’s Finals | Place de la Concorde |
| August 9 | Track Cycling | Men’s and Women’s Sprint Finals | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| August 10 | Track Cycling | Men’s and Women’s Keirin Finals | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
| August 11 | Track Cycling | Men’s and Women’s Madison Finals | Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines |
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are set to offer a thrilling array of cycling events across various disciplines and venues.
From the iconic road races at Pont d’Iéna to the intense track competitions at Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, and the adrenaline-pumping BMX and mountain biking events, cycling enthusiasts will have much to look forward to.
With its rich history and diverse set of events, cycling continues to be a cornerstone of the Olympic spirit, showcasing the endurance, skill, and passion of athletes from around the world.
2020 Tokyo (held in 2021) Recods, Resutls and Winners
| Discipline | Event | Gold Medalist | Silver Medalist | Bronze Medalist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Cycling | Men’s Road Race | Richard Carapaz (ECU) | Wout van Aert (BEL) | Tadej Pogačar (SLO) |
| Road Cycling | Women’s Road Race | Anna Kiesenhofer (AUT) | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) |
| Road Cycling | Men’s Time Trial | Primož Roglič (SLO) | Tom Dumoulin (NED) | Rohan Dennis (AUS) |
| Road Cycling | Women’s Time Trial | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) | Marlen Reusser (SUI) | Anna van der Breggen (NED) |
| Track Cycling | Men’s Team Sprint | Netherlands | Great Britain | France |
| Track Cycling | Women’s Team Sprint | China | Germany | Russia |
| Track Cycling | Men’s Team Pursuit | Italy | Denmark | Australia |
| Track Cycling | Women’s Team Pursuit | Germany | Great Britain | United States |
| Track Cycling | Men’s Sprint | Harrie Lavreysen (NED) | Jeffrey Hoogland (NED) | Jack Carlin (GBR) |
| Track Cycling | Women’s Sprint | Kelsey Mitchell (CAN) | Olena Starikova (UKR) | Lee Wai-sze (HKG) |
| Track Cycling | Men’s Keirin | Jason Kenny (GBR) | Azizulhasni Awang (MAS) | Harrie Lavreysen (NED) |
| Track Cycling | Women’s Keirin | Shanne Braspennincx (NED) | Ellesse Andrews (NZL) | Lauriane Genest (CAN) |
| Track Cycling | Men’s Omnium | Matt Walls (GBR) | Campbell Stewart (NZL) | Elia Viviani (ITA) |
| Track Cycling | Women’s Omnium | Jennifer Valente (USA) | Yumi Kajihara (JPN) | Kirsten Wild (NED) |
| Track Cycling | Men’s Madison | Denmark (Lasse Norman Hansen, Michael Mørkøv) | Great Britain (Ethan Hayter, Matthew Walls) | France (Benjamin Thomas, Donavan Grondin) |
| Track Cycling | Women’s Madison | Great Britain (Laura Kenny, Katie Archibald) | Denmark (Amalie Dideriksen, Julie Leth) | Russia (Gulnaz Khatuntseva, Mariia Novolodskaia) |
| Mountain Biking | Men’s Cross-Country | Tom Pidcock (GBR) | Mathias Flückiger (SUI) | David Valero (ESP) |
| Mountain Biking | Women’s Cross-Country | Jolanda Neff (SUI) | Sina Frei (SUI) | Linda Indergand (SUI) |
| BMX Racing | Men’s BMX | Niek Kimmann (NED) | Kye Whyte (GBR) | Carlos Ramírez (COL) |
| BMX Racing | Women’s BMX | Bethany Shriever (GBR) | Mariana Pajón (COL) | Merel Smulders (NED) |
| BMX Freestyle | Men’s Freestyle | Logan Martin (AUS) | Daniel Dhers (VEN) | Declan Brooks (GBR) |
| BMX Freestyle | Women’s Freestyle | Charlotte Worthington (GBR) | Hannah Roberts (USA) | Nikita Ducarroz (SUI) |
Cycling at the Olympics has a rich history with athletes from around the world competing at the highest level. The diversity of events, from road races to BMX freestyle, ensures a wide range of competition and showcases the best of what cycling has to offer.
The upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics will continue this tradition, adding new chapters to the storied history of Olympic cycling.