Olympic Games 2024 Cycling: Explore the routes
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
The cycling courses at this year’s Olympic Games are a clear illustration of the ambitions for cycling at the Games. The events, particularly the road races, are set to pass through magnificent sites such as the Chateau de Versailles, and of course, the iconic Eiffel Tower. Cycling remains one of the most popular sports in France each summer and this year featuring the Olympic Games promises to be one of the best in recent history!
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Olympic Games Paris 2024 Cycling: Time Trial Route
The individual time trials (ITT) will kick off the cycling discipline at the Olympic Games this year. Both the men’s and women’s time trials start upstream from the Eiffel Tower, with the starting ramp situated at the Esplanade des Invalides. Thereafter, riders will follow fairly straight paths to the Place de Bastille and proceed along Avenue Daumesnil and Rue de Charenton, all the way to Bois de Vincennes on the city's eastern edge.
Next up, the riders will pass the Jacques Anquetil Velodrome, which was the finish line of the Tour de France between 1968 and 1974, a period during which the legendary Eddy Merckx secured victory in La Grande Boucle a total of five times in six years. The ITT will proceed to weave through Bois de Vincennes Park before reaching the first two intermediate checkpoints located at Chateau de Vincennes.
From there, riders will head East on the flat Route de la Pyramide before turning back to Paris via consecutive 90-degree turns. A more technical section follows through an urbanised area of the course before arriving at the second intermediate checkpoint, once again at Chateau de Vincennes. The intermediate checkpoints are situated at the 13.4 and 22.3 kilometer marks.
The closing stages include an almost straight route to the Place de la Nation and back to the Place de la Bastille, with the final 4.5 kilometres mirroring the first 4.5, but in reverse.
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Olympic Games Paris 2024 Cycling: Road Race Route
The men’s road race at the Paris Olympics covers a total distance of 273 kilometres and includes 2,800 metres of climbing with 13 named inclines. Riders will set off in the affluent neighbourhood of Trocadero near the Eiffel Tower and will head toward the southwestern region of the French capital. Notably, the road race at the Olympics mirrors the Flemish Classics, particularly since several of the climbs run over cobblestone.
Undoubtedly, the most demanding section of the route starts a little over 100 kilometres from the finish line. Within a span of 40 kilometres, riders will face up to six climbs, including Cote de Senlisse (1.3km), Cote d’Herbouvilliers (850m), Cote de Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse (1.3km), Cote de Chateaufort (900m), Cote de Bievres (1.2km) and Cote du Pave des Gardes (1.3km), all before the riders head back to Paris.
Next up, the road race passes the Louvre and proceeds onto an 18.4km city circuit in the hilltop neighbourhood of Montmartre. This lap, which includes the cobbled Butte Montmartre climb that ascends to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, will be navigated a total of three times. The 1km climb is followed by a loop around the northeast section of the city and features a few smaller hills to scale.
Following the final climb of Butte Montmartre, 9.5km separates the riders from the finish line. The race is expected to speed up on the way down to the Seine, across the river, and through the flat run-in along the river to the finish line on the Pont d’Iena, a bridge connecting the Jardins du Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower.
Olympic Games Paris 2024 Cycling: Mountain Biking
There are two cross-country mountain bike events, one for men and one for women. Riders will start from the same line and compete in multiple laps around a challenging loop of mountainous, rough and uneven terrain that tests the individual's endurance, riding technique, and stamina.
These races feature a mass start and consist of multiple laps. This year’s mountain biking events at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be held at the picturesque Colline d’Elancourt. This hill dominates the Paris region with its 231 metres of altitude, and was developed with a comprehensive sports and non-sports plan designed by South African Nick Floros, renowned for his work on the Olympic cross-country courses at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics in Rio and Tokyo respectively.
From the top of Colline d’Elancourt, the Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse Tower, La Defense, Etang de Saint-Quentin, and Meudon Forest are all visible.
