Want to watch Olympic mountain biking but not sure when it’s on and who’s racing? Here’s a brief guide to everything you basically need to know.
Sunday, July 28
12:10pm (UK)
36 racers
Expected race duration: 1hr 30min – 1hr 45min (the number of laps is decided nearer the time, depending on weather etc)
Monday, July 29
12:10pm (UK)
36 racers
Expected race duration: 1hr 30min – 1hr 45min (the number of laps is decided nearer the time, depending on weather etc)
Where to watch it
The BBC. The racing will be on the BBC iPlayer‘s Olympics section and possibly even broadcast live on ‘proper’ telly. It will also be on Discovery+/Eurosport.
Women’s podium: Jolanda Neff won the gold. Sina Frie, silver. Linda Indergand, bronze.
Men’s podium: Tom Pidcock won the gold. Mathias Flueckiger, silver. David Valero Serrano, bronze.
Defending champ Jolanda Neff won’t be racing (still recovering from a respiratory problem) so that leaves Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Haley Batten, Jenny Rissveds and Team GB’s Evie Richards.
It’s Pidders all the way. Tom Pidcock that is. The defending champ left The Tour De France midway citing Covid (hmm…) but he’s certain to be the hot favourite in Paris. Who else? Nino Schurter, Chris Blevins, Mathias Fluckiger and – on home soil – Victor Korektzy.
Paris and its environs aren’t exactly The Alps. The lack of mountainous terrain is a common issue for mountain biking in the Olympics with the Games typically being based in or around cities.
The location for the mountain biking is an old spoil heap called Élancourt Hill. The summit, such as it is, is 231 metres. The 4.4km lap contains 110 metres of elevation.
Although the course claims to be based almost entirely on existing tracks, you can expect to see the usual level of pretty wide manmade-ness to the course.
Who is on team GB for Olympic mountain biking?
Men’s:
Charlie Aldridge
Tom Pidcock
Women’s:
Ella Maclean-Howell
Evie Richards
olympics.com (mountain bike events page)
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