Cycling returns with a loaded slate at the Olympics, from BMX freestyle to track races, running from July 27 to August 11.
Where is cycling taking place at the Paris Olympics?
Road cycling at the Paris Olympics has two disciplines, the road race and the time trial.
Both road races will start and finish at the Trocadéro and take the men’s and women’s pelotons through the Chevreuse Valley. One of the city’s most iconic landmarks in the heart of Paris, the Trocadéro will offer an exceptional viewing platform for the races.
For the first time in Olympic history, the men’s and women’s time trial events will share the same route; a round trip from Les Invalides to the Bois de Vincennes and back, crossing the finish line on Pont Alexandre III.
La Concorde Urban Park
The BMX freestyle events will take place at La Concorde Urban Park in the heart of Paris. The public square will be temporarily transformed into a venue for multiple sports, and a space to highlight the cultures of Paris. The park will be a hub for the games, with areas for visitors to enjoy live DJs, sport demonstrations, dining areas and more.
Along with BMX freestyle, La Concorde Urban Park will be home to skateboarding, breaking and 3x3 basketball.
National Velodrome
The track cycling events will take place at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. Built in 2014, the velodrome is also the headquarters of the French Cycling Federation and regularly hosts international competitions, including the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2015 and 2022.
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium
The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium will be home to the BMX racing events. Located just five minutes away from the National Velodrome, the BMX Stadium was built at the same time and will have a course designed specifically for the Olympics. Stands will be temporarily set up for spectators during the Games.
Elancourt Hill
The Mountain Bike event will take place at Elancourt Hill, the highest point in the Paris region. The summit offers views of the Eiffel Tower, La Defense and more. The artificial hill is located at the site of a former quarry, that was closed midway through the 19th century before being turned into a landfill. After the landfill was closed in 1975, the site was transformed into a public park.
A majority of the trails created for the mountain bike events are based on existing paths and will have a limited impact on the environment. After the Olympics, Elancourt Hill will open those paths back to the public.
How big is the venue?
During the Olympics, spectators will have free access to view the road cycling events across Paris, except for start and finish line areas, which will have a capacity of 3,349.
Capacity for other cycling events
National Velodrome: 5,000
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium: 3,000
Elancourt Hill: 15,000
La Concorde Urban Park: 25,000
How much will tickets cost?
Tickets for cycling will differ based on event. The road races will have areas for spectators at the start and finish lines for 24 Euros ($26) at face value.
Ticket ranges for other cycling events
BMX Freestyle: 24 to 160 Euros (approximately $26 to $175 USD)
BMX Racing: 24 to 180 Euros (approximately $26 to $200 USD)
Track: 24 to 380 Euros (approximately $26 to $415 USD)
Mountain Bike: 24 Euros (approximately $26 USD)