MAIN Sports 2012 Summer Olympics Cycling

Competitive cycling comes in many forms, none of which are even close to the ride in the park that most of us know.

Much like that other international cycling competition, the Tour de France, speed is the name of the game.

These are exciting, dynamic and powerful races. They happen either indoors on a sleek track, up a mountain, through the bumpy countryside; or in head-to-head races in exacting timed competition.

In every instance, dreams of glory are countered by the real life threat of disaster at every turn.

	2012 Olympic cycling fast facts
	BMX Venue:  VeloPark Dates: July 28 – August 12, 2012
	Mountain Bike Venue:  Hadleigh Farm, Essex Dates: July 28 – August 12, 2012
	Road Cycling Venue:  Regent's Park Dates: July 28 – August 12, 2012
	Track Cycling Venue: VeloPark Dates: July 28 – August 12, 2012

BMX, the newest event on the Olympic program, is a series of eight-man races on a dirt track. This extreme version of cycling was inspired by the annual Winter X Games. and first entered Olympic competition with the Beijing games in 2008.

In total, 500 athletes will compete for 18 gold medals in Olympic cycling in 2012

Follow all the races and get more information, photos and results during the London Games at these top sites...

More about Olympic cycling around the Web:

Cycling - Road | Olympic sport | London 2012 - Excellent overviews, background history and fun facts, the full schedule and venue information including BMX, Track Cycling and Mountain Biking competitions.

Union Cycliste Internationale - Full coverage of Olympic events with news, pictures and profiles. In French & English.

US Olympic Team - Cycling - Focus on team USA with articles & updates, athlete bios, pictures and a news feed from USA cycling. Check out the getting started section to get in gear for serious bike racing competition in the USA.

NBC Olympics - Cycling - TV schedule, feature stories and athlete profiles, the latest updates along with visitor fan posts on who's watching who...

BBC Olympics Cycling - Complete coverage of all of the cycling events and riders from the world class BBC sports team. Other bike events and concerns are covered and there are excellent beginner's guides for aspiring athletes.

Cycling Australia - Coverage at this site includes all Australian cycling events with updates on the Olympics. Information on the Australian team and results of races are posted as they occur.