One of the original events at the modern Olympics in 1896, cycling has seen more change than any other Olympic sport.
Technology has played a huge part in the development of cycling, and new events have been added throughout Olympic history, including mountain biking and BMX racing.
It’s important to have a full understanding of the various different types of cycling before making any betting decisions.
While some of the races are over too quickly to have any live betting interest, road cycling gives bettors a chance to place in-play wagers as the action unfolds.
History
The first ever cycling race is commonly believed to have been held over 1,200 metres in France in May 1868.
A row with Great Britain led France, Belgium, the USA, Italy, and Switzerland to find the Union Cycliste Internationale in 1900. Four years earlier, cycling was part of the first modern Summer Olympics. It has been an ever-present in the Games since.
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and cycling soon became a large part of everyday life. It was a hobby as well as a competitive endeavour and was a means for men and women to spend time together. There was an element of controversy around this initially.
In 1915, cycle paths began to be constructed in the Netherlands due to concerns about the increased use of motor vehicles. The last ‘Cycle Path Society’ is still active to this day, and cycling remains a massive part of the Dutch lifestyle.
Following bicycle inventions after the penny farthing, there was a period known as the ‘bicycle craze’, which saw a rapid uptake in the number of people riding bikes. It was a liberating period for women, granting unparalleled freedom.
Rules
The general aim of cycling is to get from A to B in the fastest possible time. In the velodrome, this is about completing a set number of laps as quickly as possible, but certain races have criteria that complicate this further.
Sprint races are often a head-to-head, with a knockout format building to a final. There are relay events like the madison, and points races which are an endurance race with multiple sprints scattered throughout, for which riders are rewarded points.
Cycling also includes mountain biking, BMX and other disciplines. The focus will primarily be on the track and road events, however. The time trial is one of the biggest road events – the men and women will use exactly the same course for the first time at the Paris Olympics.
For any given event, there are specific regulations that each bike must comply with. Riders should not intentionally initiate contact with other competitors at any point during a race.
There are not too many technicalities and rules for cycling compared to many other sports. While technology has seen dramatic evolution in speeds and times, the essence of the sport remains relatively straight-forward.
These are the cycling events at Paris 2024:
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BMX racing
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BMX freestyle
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Road race
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Road time trial
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Mountain biking cross country
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Sprint
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Team sprint
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Keirin
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Team pursuit
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Madison
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Omnium
Scoring
Scoring in cycling is recorded using state-of-the-art timing equipment. The clock will start when the race begins and measure the timings from each rider using a chip in their bike.
Splits are shown during cycling broadcasts, allowing viewers to see the size of the gaps between the racers. In points races, riders are rewarded points based on their finishes in each of the sprints.
Track Size & Dimensions
An arena for track cycling is called a velodrome. These include steeply banked oval tracks with two 180-degree corners and two straights. Olympic and World Championship velodromes measure at 250 metres along a line 20 centimetres up from the bottom.
Modern tracks are generally made of timber or synthetics. Older velodromes were often made of concrete.
Between the infield and the track, there is a pale blue band that takes up about 10% of the track. Called the "côte d'azur", this is not part of the track officially, but can be used in certain circumstances.
The measurement line is 20 centimetres above the "côte d'azur". A further 90 centimetres above you will find the red sprinter’s line. At half the track width, there is line used as a separation line for races using a motorcycle.
Equipment
Track bikes must weigh at least 6.8 kilograms. These bikes are improved year-on-year with innovation in aerodynamics. The same goes for helmets, eyewear, and the clothes worn by track cyclists. Track bikes do not have any brakes.
Road bikes are slightly different. Mountain bikes and BMXs obviously have their own unique characteristics, too.
Most Successful Countries at the Olympics
Great Britain have the most total cycling medals with 100, but France top the medal table due to their 41 golds. Italy (63), the Netherlands (61), and the USA (60) trail the top two nations in the total medal tally.
Australia and Germany are the other two countries to have won 15 or more gold medals at the Olympics.
