On the 3rd of August 2024 the men's road cycling peloton takes on the Olympic Games. It is in Paris that the event will take place and the route fits the likings of many riders and the sport's biggest figures. We take a look at the race's profile.
The race will take place in and around Paris for a whole 274 kilometers. A very long day on the bike packed with small climbs all throughout, reminiscent of a spring classic. It will be that kind of rider that it'll suit the most, endurance will be key, and alongside a few very explosive sections, the peloton will then find a final circuit with two laps that have three ascents each. It's not a climbers' course and is open for many riders, but it will still feature some 2700 meters of climbing which does make it somewhat difficult to imagine a sprinter taking the win.
The race starts off in the center of Paris and after 10 kilometers it leaves towards it's outskirts and some hilly terrain, where plenty attacks are expected. Until kilometer 40 we will have plenty small ascents where a strong group can go up the road. Afterwards we've got a few hours of rolling but mostly flat terrain.
From kilometer 165 to 205 there will be an hour of racing with six small ascents where attacks may happen both in the breakaway or peloton, these should antecede the final circuit and could create a valuable selection. None of them are overly hard, all are big-ring climbs where big speeds can be reached, but that is what makes this course so dangerous, because many riders will have the opportunity to create gaps whilst the strongest climbs will have a hard time making big differences or closing gaps even on the climbs.
After a small flat section the riders head back into the center of Paris and they will have a final circuit to handle, which includes a few climbs.
The riders enter the circuit through the cobbled climb that is the Côte de la Butte Montmare. The ascent is 1.1 kilometers long at 5.6%, with a few twists on the cobbled roads. From there on the riders will officially be in the final circuit, that features three small climbs.
800 meters at 5.2% (39.5 and 20Km to go), 600 meters at 5.3% (34.5and 15Km to go) and the climb to Montmare (47, 28 and 8.5Km to go) which should headline the race which is 1.1Km at 5.6%. This is a circuit however where you can't wait to make the difference in the finale.
Montmare is not hard enough to make any serious differences or cut big gaps. This is a race where early attackers should be able to benefit, and in the final circuit that is no exception. After the final climb there is a small descent and ultimately 5 pan-flat kilometers across the Seine until they reach the finish line, over the rider and by the Jardin du Trocadero, overviewing the Eiffel Tower. Whoever wins this race will be a worthy winner; although the race is not the hardest, it will require a huge tactical aspect and lots of decisions, alongside a lot of endurance.
Le parcours de la course en ligne messieurs des JO de Paris 2024 a été dévoilé sur Eurosport : 2 800 de D+ sont annoncés avec la Côte de la Butte Montmartre à escalader à 3 reprises dans le final. Le départ aura lieu à la Tour Eiffel et l'arrivée au Trocadéro. #Paris2024
