Team GB have enjoyed much success when it comes to the cycling events at the Olympics.

Britain has achieved 100 medals in cycling with 38 of these being gold, making the country the most successful in terms of medals won.

The four most successful British Olympians are all cyclists - married couple Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny, as well as Sir Bradley Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy.

If you're watching the cycling events but are left with a few questions, here is everything you need to know.

How many events are there on the track?

There are six events on the track, with men’s and women’s versions of each taking place. These include; sprint, team sprint, keirin, team pursuit, omnium and madison.

The first three are sprint events, in which the world’s fastest riders compete, while the latter three are endurance events.

The omnium is perhaps the most challenging of all, made up of four different races: a scratch race, a tempo race, an elimination race and finally a points race.

How big is a velodrome?

An Olympic velodrome is 250 metres long. The Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines is the largest in the world at eight metres wide, with a bank of 43 degrees.

The men’s sprint, which is the fastest race on the track, can see riders reach speeds of nearly 75km/h.

What is the route of the road race in Paris?

The road races in Paris for the 2024 Olympics will take in some of the capital’s most famous monuments, including the Château de Versailles, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, with a challenging final climb up Montmartre as well as the demands of cobbles and tight, winding sections.

The men’s race is 273km, while the women will race over 158km, with both finishing at the Trocadéro.

How long is the mountain biking course?

Mountain biking will take place to the southwest of Paris at Élancourt Hill, which is the highest point within the region at 231 metres.

The track has been designed by South African Nick Floros, who also designed the courses in Tokyo and Rio.

The Paris 2024 course consists of a 4.4km circuit which has an elevation of 110 metres.


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How do the bikes differ across the disciplines?

Each discipline is raced on slightly different bikes. While all have two wheels, a track bike has a very different look and feel to a BMX.

On the track, riders will be on bikes with no brakes and just one gear as they look to reach the highest possible speeds.

A road bike requires more control, with very different frames, wheels and gearing.

Unsurprisingly, mountain bikes are different again, having to deal with the most demanding terrain which requires fatter tyres and most importantly, excellent suspension.

Then there are the distinctive BMX bikes, with differences between those used in racing and freestyle, the former a little longer and lighter as they aim for greater speed and stability.