How long is the 2024 Olympics in Paris cycling road race? Distance and route

The road race featured in the first edition of the summer Olympic Games in Athens 1896 but was subsequently dropped from the program until being reinstated at Berlin 1936. Since then, it’s been a mainstay. A women’s road race was introduced at Los Angeles 1984 and has appeared at every edition since.

Italy and Great Britain top road race medals table

A total of 14 different nations have picked up the gold medal in the men’s road race event, with Italy topping the table with five gold and two bronze medals. Great Britain lead the women’s road race medals charts with 11 gold, six silver and two bronze medals.

Interestingly, it is one of the few Olympic events that no one has managed to win twice. Alexander Vinokourov is the only racer who has won multiple medals, clinching gold and silver for Kazakhstan at London 2012 and Sydney 2000 respectively.

2024 Paris cycling road race route

The French capital’s most recognizable landmarks will provide a backdrop to the road races at these Games. There will be road races in two categories - the men’s and women’s. The men’s event is longer in distance, 273km compared to 158km for the women’s race.

The routes have been designed to be challenging for racers, who will have to negotiate steep climbs, tight bends and narrow, cobbled streets. The course involves 2,800 meters of climbing and 13 named ascents, including a 1km climb of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre.

Both races start at the Trocadéro then continues past some of the city’s iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Château de Versailles, before heading out of the center into the Vélodrome National, past the Jacques Anquetil Monument in Châteaufort, before climaxing with three laps of the Côte de la Butte Montmartre then a sprint down to the finishing line back at the Trocadéro.

The women’s race follows an almost identical route to the men’s but includes just one loop out of the city through the Vallée de Chevreuse and skips the also skips the Côte d’Herbouvilliers section.

Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet explained what makes the road race such a unique and special Olympic event: “Road cycling races in cities are exceptional, and they are free access events for the fans. We’ll have a combination of a great show and great sporting event. It’s also the longest race in the history of the Olympic Games. It will be a difficult race with a very exciting final.”