Venue: To be announced
Dates: Saturday 28 July – Wednesday 1 August
Gold medals up for grabs: 4 (2 men, 2 women)
Athletes: approximately 277 (185 men, 92 women)
Canada’s Clara Hughes is one of only four people to have won medals at the Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games. In Atlanta 1996, she took Bronze in the Individual Road Race and Individual Time Trial, while in Salt Lake City 2002 she won Bronze in the 5000m Speed Skating. The first Olympic Games Road Race in 1896 was from Athens to Marathon, and back again. Only six riders took part
Cycling: a history of the sport
The bicycle was invented as a means of transport in the early 1800s. It did not take long for people to start racing on their bikes. The first official race – a two-kilometre (1.25 mile) event in Paris – was held in 1868.
Road Cycling at the Olympic Games
Road and Track Cycling have been part of the Olympic programme since the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. Women first competed in the Road Race at the Los Angeles 1984 Games.
How the competition runs
On the road there are two events: Road Race and Time Trial.
The Road Race is approximately 240km (150 miles) for men and 130km (80 miles) for women. The competitors all start together and the first past the line is the winner.
The Time Trial is against the clock over a shorter distance: riders start 90 seconds apart and whoever completes the course fastest wins.
Jargon buster
Attack: A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders.
Break/breakaway: A rider or group of riders that has left the main group behind.
Feeding station / zone: Terms for areas where riders in Mountain Bike or Road Races can pick up both food and liquid refreshments.
Hook: To suddenly move one's back wheel to the side, forcing the following rider to slow down to avoid running into it.
Peloton: The main group of riders; also called the pack, bunch or field.
Get involved
Cycling is a great way to keep fit, as well as an environmentally-friendly means of transport.
