The new route, most of the details of which were first revealed on insidethegames last May, was created after the International Cycling Federation (UCI) deemed the previous route through Regents Park and Hampstead Heath too unchallenging for the riders, will predominantly involve competitors taking on the steep hills in Surrey and Cavendish, who could well win Britain’s first medal at London 2012, revealed he is happy with the reconfiguring of the course.

"Competing in a home Olympic Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said the 25-year-old Isle of Man star who is widely considered the world’s fastest sprinter.

"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 men’s road race is provisionally scheduled to take place on Saturday July 28 on the first day of full competition at the Olympic Games while the women’s event will take place on Sunday July 29 on the second day of full competition.

Both events are free to view and 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.

London 2012 board member and Olympic gold medallist Jonathan Edwards, who was at the announcement in Surrey, told insidethegames: "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 delighted that it will showcase many of our great landmarks and countryside and that big crowds will be able to watch it live and free of charge."

The men’s race will last for approximately six hours and will be 250 kilometres length with 145 riders.

Meanwhile, the women’s race, which will feature Britain’s Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Nicole Cooke, will last for three-and-a-half hours and will be 140km in length with 67 riders.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe 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."

Pat McQuaid, President of the world governing body 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."

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, added: "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."

There will be a road race test event following the same route in mid-August this year with details on it to follow later this month.  

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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