The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) today announced the new route for the Olympic Cycling Road Races.
The Road Race is a mass start race for men and women scheduled for the first and second days of the full sport competition of the Olympic Games. The events will start and finish on The Mall in central London, a location well used to hosting the start and finish of major cycling events. The riders will race around a course that passes through six London boroughs - Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth, Richmond upon Thames, and Kingston upon Thames – before heading into Surrey and through the districts of Elmbridge, Reigate and Banstead, Guildford, Woking and Mole Valley before returning to central London for the finish. The course will also pass through Richmond Park and Bushy Park.
This announcement follows extensive consultation with the relevant local authorities to find routes that will provide an outstanding experience for athletes and spectators.
Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘This extends the Games into the south west of London and Surrey. We are delighted to be bringing such high profile and exciting events here, and which will be bringing the Road Race into challenging cycling terrain through many new boroughs and districts. Following our medal success in Beijing, the Road Cycling events really will bring the magic of the Games to life for many thousands of spectators.’
Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said: ‘The Road Race is one of the first major events of London 2012 and will be followed closely by supporters looking for a home medal. I am, therefore, delighted that it will showcase many of our great landmarks and countryside and that big crowds will be able to watch it live.’
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London said: ‘The explosion in cycling in the capital over the past year proves that Londoners have well and truly caught the cycling bug. There's no better way of getting around the city than on two wheels. This great route not only takes in London's iconic landmarks but brings the Games to the doorsteps of even more parts of the capital, and will ensure London keeps moving during these hugely popular events.’
Pat McQuaid, President of the international cycling federation (UCI) said: ‘I think this route will produce an extremely exciting Olympic Games Road Race, and especially with the circuits of Box Hill it will be a worthy winner of both the men’s and women’s gold medals’.
Mark Cavendish, GB cyclist said: ‘Competing in a home Olympic Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity. To compete in the Road Race on the opening weekend of the London 2012 Games in front of home fans is going to be amazing. I look forward to checking out the course in detail and to experiencing the well known cycling terrain in Surrey through to the finish on The Mall.’
The Road Race is provisionally scheduled to take place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July. The men’s race will take place on the Saturday and last for approximately six hours, and will be 250-km in length with 145 riders. The women’s race will take place on the Sunday and last for 3½ hours, and will be 140 km in length with 67 riders.
For more information, please contact: cycling.events@london2012.com.
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