Paris Olympic Games 2024: what is the route for the men's and women's cycling road race? Where will the race be won?

Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock and Anna Henderson will look to add to their medal haul during the cycling road race at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The men’s event is on Saturday, August 3, starting from 10:00 UK time, while the women’s race is the day after, starting at 13:00. We take a look at the 273km and 158km courses, which include two laps of an 18.4km circuit around the City of Love.

After the road cycling individual time trial brought the streets of Paris to a standstill last Saturday, this weekend sees the turn of Paris 2024’s men’s and women’s cycling road race.

A city famed for its hosting of the final stage of the Tour de France, road cycling and the French capital go hand-in-hand.

But unlike the annual procession and Champs Elysees-based sprint finish that marks the end of the world’s most iconic cycling race, Olympic Games organisers have broken away from the tried-and-tested cobbled loop that’s bookended by the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde.

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Instead, they have created two challenging courses packed with punchy climbs and a landmark-littered city centre circuit.

The 18.4km loop includes three climbs of the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur-topped Montmartre for the men’s and women’s race before a 9.5km dash along the Left Bank to the line.

Both routes should make for intriguing contests, and with a finish on Pont d’Iena at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, it’s hard to think of a more iconic backdrop to a race.

MEN'S ROAD RACE COURSE

The men’s road race will see the 90-strong peloton undertake a 273km course featuring 2,800m elevation gain.

After departing from the Trocadero, riders will have a 5km neutralised zone along the Left Bank before winding their way southwards out of the city.

The route will then cut southwest in the direction of the Palace of Versailles, passing the legendary landmark and venue for the Paris 2024 equestrian and modern pentathlon competitions.

From there, it will cut through the Vallée de la Mauldre on a predominately undulating terrain before ramping up for what’s arguably the make-or-break section of the course for the more sprint-focused riders like Denmark’s Mads Pedersen or Eritrea's 2024 Tour de France green jersey winner Biniam Girmay - a 40km section from 166km that features six earmarked climbs.

The elevation profile of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games men's road race route

Image credit: Getty Images

After there, it’s a quick descent back into the French capital and the start of the 18.4km circuit around Paris north and northeastern arrondissements.

Riders have to complete the circuit twice, which includes three ascents of Cote de la butte Montmartre - a punchy 1km climb with an average gradient of 6.5%.

Having summited it for the final time, just 9.5km stands between the race leader and the chance to be crowned Olympic champion.

WOMEN'S ROAD RACE COURSE

The course route of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women's road cycling race

Image credit: Getty Images

The following day, fans on the streets of Paris get to do it all again for the women’s road race final.

Although it’s more than 100km shorter than the men’s, expect fireworks throughout on the 158km course with 1,700m elevation gain.

The peloton will follow in the men’s tracks as they make their way out of the French capital before diverging at Versailles.

Here, the women’s race will head southwest in the direction of Le Golf National before following a similar, abridged course to the second half of the men’s route.

The elevation profile of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women's road race route

Image credit: Getty Images

While there isn’t the same frenetic section of climbing, it’s not short of calf-burning peaks, with six to overcome before entering the central Paris circuit.

From there, it will be a straight shoot-out for the win on the two laps of the 18.4km course, with the winner crowned on the Pont d’Iena in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

The men’s road race starts at 10:00 UK time on Saturday, August 2, while the women’s will be decided from 13:00 UK time on Sunday, August 3.

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