Picture by Michael Steele
Over the years, the road race has become one of the most popular events for cyclists and para-cyclists. A popular sport par excellence, cycling is sure to draw large crowds. The roadsides will be accessible free of charge, so that as many people as possible can come and cheer on the champions.
Spectacular, popular and selective - three words that sum up these Olympic races on August 3 and 4. The men's and women's pelotons will set off from the foot of the Eiffel Tower, leaving Paris for the Château de Versailles. The men's peloton will head north towards Saint-Germain-en-Laye, for a loop through the Yvelines département. The men's and women's race routes will follow the same path in the Vallée de Chevreuse, a mecca for cycling in the Paris region, with its rugged terrain. The route back to Paris will again take in the Hauts-de-Seine department, before heading for the north-east of the capital, where the riders will discover a final circuit. The final kilometers will take them to the Pont d'Iéna, the scene of the final sprint to the Trocadéro.
Only the start and finish areas of these races require a ticket.
Butte de Montmartre: accustomed to the Champs-Elysées during the Tour de France, this time the women's and men's pelotons will have a rendezvous with the cobbled climb of the Butte Montmartre (1 km at 6.5%). To be tackled three times in the last 40 km, it is sure to be the scene of many twists and turns. Standing at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur basilica, you'll have an unobstructed view of the race and Paris!
Rue Belleville: this is the other difficulty on the Paris circuit, and a perfect alternative to Montmartre. Runners will pass it twice in the final stretch.
Chaville/Meudon: this is a strategic sector, as the riders will pass through it twice. First at kilometer 14 (on the route des Gardes side in Meudon), then at kilometer 214 (on the rue du Pavé des Gardes side in Chaville).
Beynes (only for the men's race): the name of this commune in the Yvelines may not ring a bell, but it should be of interest to all cycling aficionados during the men's race! And with good reason: the peloton passes through twice: kilometers 66 and 108! This is enough time to cover the 500 meters separating the two spots (D191, D191).
Discover our recommended spots maps for the Women Road Race
Discover our recommended spots maps for the Men Road Race
For the first time, men and women will share the same course in the time trial: a spectacular round trip from Les Invalides to the Bois de Vincennes, before crossing the finish line on the Pont Alexandre III. The main advantage of this discipline is that cyclists are staggered one by one along the course. There will be 35 entrants per race, so there'll be plenty of opportunity to enjoy the show!
Discover our recommended spots map
Château de Vincennes: at the foot of the medieval fortress, you'll see the runners pass twice (kilometers 13 and 22). From a sporting point of view, this location will be crucial, as two intermediate times will be announced to runners battling against the clock.
Pont de Sully: you'll have the pleasure of seeing competitors pass not once, but twice (kilometers 4 and 28), as the roadway will be divided in two. Close to Notre-Dame de Paris and the Seine, the setting is idyllic!
Lac Daumesnil/Avenue Daumesnil: positioned here, you'll enjoy a green and refreshing setting! Runners will pass through at a slightly slower pace, taking a sharp right-hand curve to leave the Route de ceinture du Lac Daumesnil and return to the Avenue of the same name. You'll be here at kilometer 11 of 32! Once the race is over, you can enjoy the Bois de Vincennes, just next door.
Women: Saturday, July 27, 2.30pm - 4pm
Men: Saturday, July 27, 4:30 pm - 6 pm
Number of athletes: 35 women, 35 men
Start interval between each athlete: 1 minute and 30 seconds
Picture by 2015 Getty Images
It's in Seine-Saint-Denis, and more precisely in Clichy-sous-Bois, that Para road cycling will live out its hours of glory. Paris 2024 has laid out a 14.2-kilometer circuit capable of adapting to each event and category (H, T, C and B).
From boulevard Émile Zola, runners will head east through the Bondy forest. As they enter the town of Courtry, the difficulties begin with the côte de Courtry (1 km at 4.5%). Runners then head back towards Clichy-sous-Bois via the Bois de Bernouille to reach the final difficulty of the course, the côte de Clichy-sous-Bois (850m at 4.7%).
The mixed team relay will take place on an even more dynamic 1.8 km course in the heart of Clichy-sous-Bois.
La côte de Clichy-sous-Bois, 850m at 4.7%: located just over a kilometer from the start/finish line, this climb will be decisive, whatever the race. The fresher competitors will be able to make the final difference and go for a gold medal.
Côte de Courtry, 1 km at 4.5%: with its yaw at the summit, this climb could take on an Alpes d'Huez air! The grassy verges and embankments are ideal for gathering the crowds to cheer on the para-cyclists at the top of this climb, which will wreak havoc on the peloton as it progresses.
Boulevard Émile Zola: the starting and finishing point of the race, this boulevard will be the scene of major exploits that will go down in history. It will be used by all the races, even the mixed team relay, which will never stray far from its 1.8-kilometre loop.