Athens, 21 August 2004, Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. Women's track cycling Leontien ZIJLAARD-VAN MOORSEL of Netherlands competes during the individual pursuit event at the Olympic Velodrome. Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire

Bicycles were first developed in 1817and have long since been used as a form of transport. Originally, the front wheel was much larger than the rear wheel, and the rider was elevated a great deal, making them difficult to control and very dangerous. In 1885, J.K. Starley of England devised the more modern bike with a chain and gearing to allow the wheels to be of equal size. Although bicycle races had been held on the old "penny farthings", the new bikes stimulated the growth of bicycle racing as a sport.

Cycling at the Olympics features four exciting disciplines: road, track, mountain biking and bmx.

Discipline's origin

Bicycles were first developed in the mid-18th century and have long since been used as a form of transport. Originally, the front wheel was much larger than the rear wheel, and the rider was elevated a great deal, thus making the bike difficult to control and therefore very dangerous. In 1885, J.K. Starley of England devised the more modern bike with a chain and gearing that allowed the wheels to be of equal size. Although bicycle races had been held on the old "penny farthings", the new bikes stimulated the growth of bicycle racing as a sport.

From 1880 to 1900, cycling became immensely popular both in Europe and the United States. The sport was primarily a professional one at that time. The sport continues its grip on the European continent to this day, but bicycle racing ceased to be a popular sport at about the time of the depression in the United States. Only the American Olympic victories at Los Angeles in 1984 and the recent Tour de France exploits of Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong have again stimulated interest in the United States.

Olympic history

Cycling is one of the few sports that has been on the programme of every Olympic Games. The programme has varied but now consists of road races, track races and mountain biking. Road racing has been on the programme of every Olympic Games with the exception of 1900, 1904 and 1908. In Athens in 1896, the original Olympic road race took place on the marathon course, with the riders travelling from Athens to Marathon and then returning to Athens' Phaliron velodrome.

An individual road race was contested at the 1896 Olympics and at all of the Olympic Games since 1912. A team road race event was also on the programme from 1912 to 1956. This event consisted of adding up team placements or times from the individual road race. In 1960, the team road race was replaced by a 100 kilometre team time trial. The team time trial was dropped from the Olympic programme after the 1992 Olympics, and the individual time trial on the road was returned to the programme after 64 years of absence. Women began competing in cycling at the Olympics in 1984, with an individual road race as the only event. In 1996 and 2000, women also competed in an individual road time trial, similar to the men.

The Europeans have dominated Olympic cycling, notably the French and Italians. However, the Eastern Europeans have also won many medals, especially on the track.

The course

The course for a cross-country race should include, where possible, forest roads and tracks, fields, earth or gravel paths and include significant amounts of climbing and descending. Paved or tarred/asphalt roads should not exceed 15% of the total course.

The course must be wholly ridable regardless of the terrain and weather conditions. The course must be free of all significant obstacles except those which have been expressly included or about which the riders have been warned. There must not be any obstacles which might cause a crash or a collision in the start and finish zones.

Extended single track sections must have periodic passing sections.

The course of cross-country events must be totally separate from that of all other event organised on the same site. Should this not be the case, the organisers must make certain that the two courses are not used simultaneously, even for training.

On circuits for world championships, continental championships and World Cup and Class 1 events, provision must be made for at least 6 crossing points for spectators. The crossings must be marshalled on each side.

Rules

Cycling Discipline

Anyone who behaves in an incorrect or dishonest