Cycling was one of the nine sports included in the inaugural modern Games. The 1896 Games featured a handful of track cycling events, and road cycling made its debut soon after. Women's cycling events were introduced later, with track cycling for women appearing in the 1988 Seoul Games and road cycling in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. The sport has grown significantly, now featuring multiple disciplines and a wide range of events.
Cycling comprises of five main disciplines: Road Cycling, Track Cycling, Mountain Biking and most recently BMX Racing, and BMX Freestyle.
Road cycling includes the road race and the individual time trial. The road race is a mass-start event where cyclists compete over a long distance, often featuring challenging terrain and strategic team dynamics. The individual time trial is a race against the clock, with cyclists starting at intervals and aiming to complete the course in the shortest time possible. Road cycling events test endurance, strategy, and the ability to navigate diverse courses.
Road cycling includes the road race and the individual time trial. The road race is a mass-start event where cyclists compete over a long distance, often featuring challenging terrain and strategic team dynamics. The individual time trial is a race against the clock, with cyclists starting at intervals and aiming to complete the course in the shortest time possible. Road cycling events test endurance, strategy, and the ability to navigate diverse courses.
Track cycling takes place on a velodrome, a specially designed circular track. Events are categorised into sprint and endurance races. Sprint events, such as the individual sprint and team sprint, focus on short, high-speed efforts. Endurance events, like the individual pursuit, team pursuit, and the points race, test stamina and strategic racing over longer distances. The keirin, an exciting event where cyclists follow a motorised pace bike before sprinting to the finish, and the omnium, a multi-event competition, add to the track cycling spectacle, even if you’re not quite sure what’s going on or who’s in the lead.
Mountain biking, introduced in 1996, features cross-country races on rugged off-road courses. These races test riders' technical skills, endurance, and ability to handle diverse terrains, including steep climbs and descents, rocky paths, and forest trails are not for the feint hearted.
BMX racing, debuting in the 2008 Beijing Games, involves short, intense races on dirt tracks with jumps, banked turns, and other obstacles. Riders compete in heats, with the top performers advancing to the final. BMX racing is known for its explosive speed, aerial manoeuvres, and thrilling head-to-head competition.
Introduced in the 2021 Tokyo Games together with skateboarding, BMX freestyle features athletes performing tricks and stunts in a park course filled with ramps, rails, and other obstacles. Riders are judged on the difficulty, execution, and creativity of their tricks, making this discipline a blend of athleticism and artistry.
Cycling showcases some of the most dramatic and memorable moments in sports history. Legendary British cyclists like Sir Chris Hoy, who won six gold medals in track cycling, and road cycling champions like Fabian Cancellara and Marianne Vos have left indelible marks on the sport. The competition brings together the world's best cyclists, pushing the boundaries of speed, endurance, and technical
The sport has seen significant advancements in technology and training methods. Innovations in bike design, materials, and aerodynamics have led to faster and more efficient bicycles. Enhanced training techniques, including data analysis and performance monitoring, have allowed athletes to fine-tune their preparation. However, technology can only carry you so far. In London 2012, the American team introduced a new style of bike with the chain on the left hand side, hoping that the new weight distribution would help propel the bike around the sloped track quicker. It didn’t and the Brits still won.
Our cycling community can help with everything from routes, tips, tricks and active groups. Or if you’re looking for more of a family feel to your ride, why not save a bundle on your bike at Halfords or loads of other stores at CSSC savings.