Cycling at Paris Olympics 2024: How To Watch & Tips For Getting Involved
The Summer Olympics are back, and the Paris 2024 games are nearly underway. Despite the wait since the last summer games being just three years, it’s been eight years since a fully attended edition of the world’s biggest sporting event. Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 saw heroes made and provided moments that will last a lifetime, and we’re sure Paris 2024 will follow suit.
Here at Fawkes Cycles, our eyes will, of course, be firmly glued to all the exciting cycling action! At Tokyo 2020, Team GB topped the medal table by picking up 12 across all cycling events in total, with six golds. Two of those goals saw cycling spouses James and Laura Kenny become the most successful male and female Olympians in British history after their victories in the men’s keirin and women’s madison, respectively.
Moments like these are crucial in inspiring new generations of cyclists and those looking to get active. Our guide will go through all you need to know about cycling at this year’s Olympic Games while giving you a rundown of what you need to start your cycling journey.
Table of contents
- All cycling events at the Paris Olympics
- How to watch cycling at the Paris Olympics
- Who is cycling for Team GB at the Olympics?
- What do you need to start cycling?
- How to get involved in cycling
All cycling events at the Paris Olympics
One of the best things about cycling at the Olympics is there’s just so much of it for us to enjoy! From July 27 – August 11, there will be thick and fast cycling action across all disciplines. We get underway with the women’s and men’s individual time trials in road cycling and conclude with the track as the medal races for the women’s sprint, omnium and men’s keirin take place.
Across all five disciplines of cycling represented at the Olympics (road cycling, track cycling, BMX racing, BMX freestyle, MTB racing), there will be 20 events in total. Listed below are all the events to look out for and the dates of their medal races.
Road cycling
- Women’s Individual Time Trial – July 27th
- Men’s Individual Time Trial – July 27th
- Men’s Road Race – August 3rd
- Women’s Road Race – August 3rd
Track Cycling
- Women’s Team Sprint – August 5th
- Men’s Team Sprint – August 6th
- Men’s Team Pursuit – August 7th
- Women’s Team Pursuit – August 7th
- Women’s Keirin – August 8th
- Men’s Omnium – August 8th
- Women’s Madison – August 9th
- Men’s Sprint – August 9th
- Men’s Madison – August 10th
- Women’s Sprint – August 11th
- Men’s Keirin – August 11th
- Women’s Omnium – August 11th
View the full track cycling schedule here.
BMX Racing
- Men’s BMX Race – August 2nd
- Women’s BMX Race – August 2nd
BMX Freestyle
- Women’s Park – July 31st
- Men’s Park – July 31st
MTB Racing
- Women’s cross-country – 28th July
- Men’s cross-country – 29th July
How to watch cycling at the Paris Olympics
With all this cycling coming your way, you’ll need to know how to watch it! Live TV coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer will be available for select cycling events at this year’s games, but not all will be available. If you don’t want to miss a second of the action, sign up for Discovery Plus for £6.99 a month.
Discovery Plus will show every cycling event at this summer’s Olympics. At the same time, live text and audio updates will be available via BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport app.
Who is cycling for Team GB at the Olympics?
We know the when and how, but what about the who? Which cyclists will we be cheering on to glory from home this summer as they try to bring back gold from their trip across the Channel?
Team GB’s star duo heading to Paris are World Champion sprinter Emma Finucane and Olympic gold medalist Tom Pidcock, who won the mountain bike race at Tokyo 2020. They’re joined by another gold medalist in Charlotte Worthington, seeking a second successive gold in BMX freestyle.
Other medalists in the team include Kye White (BMX racing, Tokyo 2020, silver), Ethan Hayter (men’s madison, Tokyo 2020, silver), Jack Carlin (men’s sprint & team sprint, Tokyo 2020, bronze & silver) and Katy Marchant (women’s sprint, Rio 2016, bronze).
The full team and their disciplines are listed below:
| Name | Age | Class |
| Kieran Reilly | 23 | Men’s BMX Freestyle Park |
| Charlotte Worthington | 28 | Women’s BMX Freestyle Park |
| Kye Whyte | 24 | Men’s BMX Racing |
| Ross Cullen | 23 | Men’s BMX Racing (reserve) |
| Beth Shriever | 25 | Women’s BMX Racing |
| Emily Hutt | 19 | Women’s BMX Racing (reserve) |
| Lizzie Deignan | 35 | Women’s Road |
| Pfeiffer Georgi | 23 | Women’s Road |
| Anna Henderson | 25 | Women’s Road (TT) |
| Anna Morris | 29 | Women’s Road & Track Endurance |
| Elinor Barker | 29 | Women’s Track Endurance |
| Neah Evans | 33 | Women’s Track Endurance |
| Josie Knight | 27 | Women’s Track Endurance |
| Jess Roberts | 25 | Women’s Track Endurance |
| Meg Barker | 26 | Women’s Track Endurance (reserve) |
| Charlie Aldridge | 23 | Men’s Mountain Bike |
| Tom Pidcock | 24 | Men’s Mountain Bike & Road |
| Ella Maclean-Howell | 19 | Women’s Mountain Bike |
| Evie Richards | 27 | Women’s Mountain Bike |
| Ethan Hayter | 25 | Men’s Road (TT) & Track Endurance |
| Josh Tarling | 20 | Men’s Road (TT/RR) |
| Stevie Williams | 28 | Men’s Road |
| Fred Wright | 25 | Men’s Road |
| Dan Bingham | 32 | Men’s Track Endurance |
| Charlie Tanfield | 27 | Men’s Track Endurance |
| Ethan Vernon | 23 | Men’s Track Endurance |
| Ollie Wood | 28 | Men’s Track Endurance |
| Mark Stewart | 28 | Men’s Track Endurance (reserve) |
| Jack Carlin | 27 | Men’s Track Sprint |
| Ed Lowe | 20 | Men’s Track Sprint |
| Hamish Turnbull | 25 | Men’s Track Sprint |
| Joe Truman | 27 | Men’s Track Sprint (reserve) |
| Sophie Capewell | 25 | Women’s Track Sprint |
| Emma Finucane | 21 | Women’s Track Sprint |
| Katy Marchant | 31 | Women’s Track Sprint |
| Lowri Thomas | 25 | Women’s Track Sprint (reserve) |
What do you need to start cycling?
The thrill of watching these athletes perform at the pinnacle of the sport can be a great source of inspiration for many worldwide. BBC Radio 2 is encouraging those across the UK watching the Olympics this summer to get out and be active. At Fawkes, we want to show you how you can do that by cycling!
We’re not saying you’ll be the next Laura Kenny or Bradley Wiggins immediately. Still, the fitness, environmental and financial benefits of getting on your bike can make amazing changes to your daily life. Everyone knows cycling is great for cardio, but if you make it your way to get to work you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint while saving on petrol and public transport costs.
Before starting your cycling journey, you must know what essential equipment you need.
Be protected
Safety should always be the priority when starting any new activity, especially cycling. Falls are common even at moderate or slow speeds, so wearing a helmet and other protective equipment, such as pads and back protectors. We also offer cycling eyewear for protection from all weather during your ride.
Be comfortable
Being comfortable is crucial when enjoying your time on a bike, so ensure you have the right clothing. Our cycling clothing collection features everything you need to be comfortable on the road, no matter the weather. Wear jerseys and shorts to maximise your aerodynamic potential, and take a jacket for the cold and wet days.
Be seen
Visibility is always key when riding your bike, not just when it’s dark and gloomy! Hi-vis and reflective clothing are essential year round so drivers, pedestrians and fellow cyclists are always aware of your presence on the road. Be seen to be safe.
Wear the correct footwear
You can’t afford to let your feet slip when pedalling away for miles at a time. Cycling shoes help you maintain your grip in all conditions so your feet stay secure on the pedals. The correct footwear will also help your feet stay comfortable while you make those big pushes uphill.
Fuel for success
As with any exercise, proper preparation and nutrition make cycling all the more beneficial. Get the fuel you need for your ride with fruit bars packed with natural energy. Stay hydrated throughout the journey with energy gels, drinks and tablets you can ride with while always having a bottle of water handy. Recovery nutrition is just as important as preparation, and we stock recovery drinks to help you ease after a long ride.
How to get involved in cycling
Getting involved in cycling can be as simple as picking up a bike and hitting the road. But we know plenty of people starting new hobbies alone feel some trepidation. Visit British Cycling to find cycling tips, tricks and groups for cyclists of all ages and experiences. Start your journey your way and find a local group today.
We hope you enjoy the cycling this summer’s Olympics has to offer us as much as we will at Fawkes! No matter when or where you start your love for cycling, it’s an activity for everyone to enjoy, so get inspired and visit us for all your equipment needs.
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