CYCLING:
Technical Details
Road race: The men's race is over 17 laps of a 13.2km circuit around Athens
city centre, a total distance of 224.4km. The women will compete over nine laps,
a total distance of 118.8km.
Individual time trial: Cyclists start from a ramp at intervals of 60 seconds
and race against the clock with the fastest cyclist winning. The men will
compete over two laps of a 24km circuit while the women race over one lap.
Track cycling: More specialised and more complex than other cycling
disciplines. It consists of short, medium, and long-distance events, where
speed, endurance and tactics are important factors in gaining victory.
Mountain biking: Started in California in the mid-1970s as a form of
entertainment and recreation. It is one of the fastest-growing participation
sports, first introduced at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Five facts
1) The first official cycle race is thought to have taken place in Paris in
1868, with professional events in Britain beginning in 1871.
2) Cycling was first introduced to the Olympic programme at the Games in 1896
although it was omitted from the 1904 Olympic Games in St Louis. Cycling
returned to the Olympic programme as part of the 1908 Games in London and
Britain won five golds, three silvers and a bronze medal.
3) Women's cycling was not introduced until 1984.
4) In 1992, Chris Boardman won gold in the individual 4,000m, followed by a
bronze in the 1996 Games for the road time trial event. Jason Queally claimed
gold in the 1km time trial in Sydney.
5) Overall, Great Britain has won 10 golds, 23 silvers and 18 bronze medals
across all the different cycling events, some of which are now discontinued.
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