The Paris 2024 Olympics will kick off with a groundbreaking Opening Ceremony along the Seine River on July 26, 2024. This will be the first time in Olympic history that the ceremony is held outside of a stadium, creating a unique and immersive experience in the heart of Paris. Cycling events will start on Saturday, July 27, and end on Sunday, August 11. Here’s everything you need to know about the Olympic cycling events at Paris 2024.
Event Schedule
Road Cycling
- Saturday, July 27, 2024
- Women’s Individual Time Trial: 14:30
- Men’s Individual Time Trial: 16:34
- Saturday, August 3, 2024
- Men’s Road Race: 11:00
- Sunday, August 4, 2024
- Women’s Road Race: 14:00
- Men’s Road Race (273km): A long, tough bike ride through Paris. Cyclists pass famous spots like the Eiffel Tower and ride up a challenging hill called Montmartre.
- Women’s Road Race (158km): The women’s route is similar but with some twists. They also ride through iconic places like the Louvre and the Latin Quarter.
Equal Participation
- This time, men and women compete equally—90 of each. They battle it out in the Hauts-de-Seine area, including a hill called Côte des Gardes.
The Chevreuse Valley Challenge
- Cyclists face tough hills in the Chevreuse Valley. There’s the Côte de Port-Royal, the Côte de Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, and more.
- Women have their own hill, the Côte de Cernay-la-Ville, while men tackle the Côte de Senlisse and others.
Mountain Biking
- Sunday, July 28, 2024
- Women’s Cross-Country: 14:00 – 16:30
- Monday, July 29, 2024
- Men’s Cross-Country: 14:00 – 16:30
Also Read: Michael Mørkøv Announces Professional Cycling Retirement at the End of 2024 Season
Cross-Country Mountain Biking
- Men and women both compete in cross-country mountain biking.
- They start together and ride multiple laps on a challenging 4.4km course with a 110m elevation.
- The terrain is rough, testing their skills, endurance, and stamina.
- If a rider is lapped or significantly slower than the leader, they get eliminated
Track Cycling
- Monday, August 5, 2024
- Events like Women’s Team Sprint Qualifying and Men’s Team Pursuit Qualifying begin in the afternoon.
- Sprint Events
- Individual Sprint: Two riders race head-to-head over three laps. Tactics come into play, and you might see a “track stand” where they almost stop to outwit their opponent.
- Team Sprint: Three riders compete in a team time trial. They take turns leading for a lap, and the clock stops when the last rider finishes.
- Keirin: Riders follow a pacing motorbike, gradually speeding up. After 750m, the motorbike leaves, and a three-lap sprint begins.
- Endurance Events
- Omnium: A test of all-round endurance. Riders compete in four events in one day, earning points based on their rankings.
- Team Pursuit: Teams of four race over four kilometers, aiming for the fastest time or catching opponents.
- Madison: A relay race where two riders per team swap in and out, earning points in intermediary sprints.
Venues and Cycling Routes
The road cycling events will take place in Paris. The Women’s and Men’s Individual Time Trials will start at Pont Alexandre III, a historic bridge known for its ornate design and stunning views of the Seine River.
The road races will begin and end at the Trocadéro, providing a breathtaking backdrop with the Eiffel Tower in sight.
Mountain biking events will be held at Elancourt Hill, a venue known for its rugged and challenging terrain. Riders will navigate through a course filled with twists, turns, and elevation changes, testing their endurance and technical skills.
Challenging Terrain
The Paris 2024 cycling events promise to be some of the most thrilling yet, thanks to the diverse and challenging terrains. From the flat, fast-paced streets of Paris to the rough, mountainous trails of Elancourt Hill, each event will push athletes to their limits. The road races will feature cobblestone sections and steep climbs, while the mountain bike courses are designed to test riders’ abilities to handle difficult and unpredictable terrain.
Also Read: Thrilling Cross-Country Mountain Bike National Championships 2024
How to Watch: Live Streaming and TV
The Paris 2024 Olympics will be widely accessible via live streaming and TV broadcasts. The official Olympic Channel will provide comprehensive coverage of all cycling events. Major broadcasters like NBC (USA), BBC (UK), and Eurosport will also offer extensive coverage, including live streams, replays, and highlights.
Ticket Booking
- Official Ticketing Website: To buy tickets, visit the official Paris 2024 ticketing website. Every Thursday at 10 am, new tickets become available for various sports.
- Download the App: For easy ticket management, download the “Paris 2024 Tickets” app. It lets you access, transfer, and even resell tickets.
- Avoid Scams: Be cautious of scams. Paris 2024 doesn’t issue paper tickets, and any communication asking for payment for free tickets is likely fraudulent. If you’re unsure, contact the Paris 2024 team at integrityandenforcement@paris2024.org.
What Olympic sports are being dropped in Paris 2024?
- Baseball: Despite being featured in past Olympics, scheduling conflicts with Major League Baseball led to its exclusion.
- Softball: After being absent in 2012 and 2016, softball returned in 2020 but won’t continue in Paris.
- Karate: Surprisingly, karate, which debuted in Tokyo 2020, won’t be part of the Paris Games. The decision was based on entertainment value and attracting a younger audience