Road cycling rules, race format to know for 2024 Olympics – NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cycling at the Olympic Games consists of two separate events: the individual time trial and the road race.

Read on to learn more about how both competitions will work at the Paris Games.

Time trial

How many athletes will participate in the time trial at the 2024 Olympic Games?

There are 35 riders each in the individual time trials for men and women. Each country is limited to a maximum of two athletes per event.

This will be the first time in Olympic history that the men’s and women’s events will have the same number of competitors.

Will men and women compete on the same time trial course at the 2024 Olympics?

Yes, for the first time in Olympic history, the men’s and women’s time trials in Paris will take place on the exact same course.

How long is the Olympic time trial course and how long does it take for the riders to finish?

The time trial course for the Paris Games has a total length of 32.4 kilometers and is largely flat. The starting point is at Esplanade des Invalides and the route takes riders to the Bois de Vincennes and then back to the finish line on the Pont Alexandre III bridge.

It is estimated that most riders will complete the course in between 35 and 40 minutes. In total, each competition is expected to last approximately 90 minutes.

How does the time trial event at the Olympics work?

Each rider completes the course on their own, with athletes starting their rides at 90-second intervals. The cyclist who completes the course in the fastest time is the winner.

If a rider overtakes another rider on the course, they are not allowed to cooperate in any way. Drafting – riding in the slipstream behind another rider – is not permitted and the approaching rider must maintain a lateral distance of 2 meters between the two of them.

Street race

How many athletes will compete in the road race at the 2024 Olympic Games?

The men’s and women’s road races each have 90 riders in the field. Each country is limited to a maximum of four athletes in each event.

This will be the first time in Olympic history that the men’s and women’s events will have the same number of competitors.

Will men and women compete on the same road race course at the 2024 Olympic Games?

No. Unlike the time trial, the road race in Paris has different routes for men and women.

How long is the Olympic road race course and how long does it take the riders to reach the finish?

The men’s road race course has a total length of 273 kilometers (approximately 169 miles), while the women’s course has a total length of 158 kilometers (approximately 98 miles).

The Trocadero will serve as the start and finish points for both races. Both routes, which include a variety of landscapes including wooded areas and urban areas, take riders outside of Paris and back into the city. Both routes also feature three cobblestone climbs up the Butte Montmartre late in the race.

It is estimated that the winner of the men’s race will finish somewhere over six hours, while the winner of the women’s race will finish just over four hours.

How does the road racing event work at the Olympic Games?

The road race has a mass start: all 90 riders leave the starting line at the same time. The first athlete to cross the finish line is the winner.

Unlike the time trial, athletes are allowed to work together if they wish.

Road cycling programme for the 2024 Olympic Games

Cycling races are held for three days.

The men’s and women’s time trials will be held on July 27, the men’s road race on August 3 and the women’s road race on August 4.

Other Olympic cycling disciplines

Learn the rules and race formats for other cycling disciplines at the Paris Olympics.