Mass cycle race will take place on first and second days of games
The London 2012 Organising Committee has announced the new route for the Olympic Cycling Road Races, which will include a route through Fulham to Putney Bridge.
The Road Race is a mass start cycle 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, and will go through Fulham on both the outward and return legs of the races. Thousands of people are expected to line the route to cheer on the riders.
You can view road race route here
The Road Race is provisionally scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29. The men's race will take place on the Saturday and last for approximately six hours, and will be 250km in length with 145 riders. The women’s race will take place on the Sunday and last for 3½ hours, and will be 140km in length with 67 riders.
The full route will take riders 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 then returning to central London for the finish.
The committee says its announcement follows extensive consultation with the relevant local authorities to find routes that will provide an outstanding experience for athletes and spectators.
Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair says: "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."
Mark Cavendish, GB cyclist, says: " '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."
February 11, 2011
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