About the event

Road race

The road races (250km for men, 140km for women) follow a model similar to the senior world championships. As ever, with road races, all the riders start together, and the first rider to cross the finish line wins gold. Team-work and tactics will both play crucial roles in deciding the winner.

The men's Road Race will take place on 28 July, with the women's held on 29 July. Both events will begin on The Mall, before the riders head south-west through the city. They will then cross the Thames at Putney Bridge and continue out through Richmond Park and past Hampton Court Palace.

The Surrey section of the course incorporates several circuits of a challenging loop around Box Hill (nine for the men’s Road Race, two loops for the women’s equivalent), before the riders head north through Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston, Richmond Park and back to The Mall for a dramatic finish.

Time trial

For the time trial (44km for men, 29km for women), riders start 90 seconds apart, and the winner will the rider with the fastest time over the course. Technique, technology (focusing on aerodynamics) and natural talent are all essential for success in this demanding discipline.

Held on 1 August, the time trials will begin and end at historic Hampton Court Palace in south-west London, and will incorporate sections of Richmond, Kingston-upon-Thames and Surrey. Both events are held over a single lap, with the variations in the men’s and women’s courses reflecting the different distances.

Course maps

Road race

Men's time trial

Women's time trial

If this summer has inspired you to get on a bike...