Modern Olympics - The Golden Age

It was the English invention of the Starley ‘Rover Safety Bicycle' in 1885 that provided the catalyst for the ‘Golden Age' of cycling. Additionally the introduction of pneumatic tires provided another major boost to the viability of the ‘Safety' and in particular its use for racing. The cumbersome and often dangerous designs of the past were finally replaced by a safe design suited to all levels of rider skills. Its diamond shaped frame and equal sized wheels are to this day the basic elements of the bike. Of equal significance at that time was that the ‘Safety' was economically viable for many in the middle and lower classes (i.e. the majority of the population). This fact led to the bicycle becoming a vehicle for the masses and for the spontaneous evolution of bicycle racing.

When Baron Pierre de Coubertin proposed reviving the concept of the ancient Greek Olympic Games at a congress in Paris in 1894, bicycle racing had firmly taken root across Europe. Coubertin's proposal became reality in 1896 when the first of the “modern” Olympic Games were hosted in Athens. Less than 250 athletes participated, which by today's standards seems small. However it was at that time the largest international sporting event ever held.

In all nine different sports disciplines participated in the 1896 games. As would be expected, track and field with 12 events represented the historical roots of the ancient Olympic Games with the Marathon being the high point of the entire proceedings.

Cycling with six events truly represented the modern age combining athletic prowess with technological advance. Paul Masson of France won three races on the track and appropriately the road race was won by the Greek rider Aristidis Konstantinidis.

A Rich Heritage

It was no accident that the re-birth of the Olympics should occur in the 1890's. Society as a whole was entering a new and dynamic phase of evolution. Technology had created the concept of cities focussed on manufacturing and this fuelled a mass movement of people from rural farming areas. A middle class was growing and issues such as workers rights and women's rights were fought for with great passion.

2004 Men's Podium	2004 Women's Podium

Increasingly, recreation was becoming part of the ‘common' man's life, and the bicycle happened to be at the right place at the right time. Bicycle racing, both on the track and on the road, was springing up everywhere. This was the decade when two of the ‘Five Monuments of Cycling' were born. The Liege-Bastogne-Liege was first run in 1892 and the Paris-Roubaix was first run in 1896.

Most cycling fans are fully aware of the great heritage of cycle sport with respect to the great one-day classics and the Tour de France (first run in 1903). However many may be surprised to learn that cycling has been featured at every edition of the Olympics since 1896.

Change

Three major factors have impacted the evolution of the modern Olympic Games format. Originally the ‘Games' were designed to uphold the spirit of amateur sport. This held well for many years until the emergence of the so called ‘Eastern Block' countries. State sponsored sports programs created what were essentially paid professional athletes. Increasingly the rest of the World was finding it all but impossible to beat these athletes. So during the 1970's the Olympic Committee opened the Games up to professional athletes. In cycling Hennie Kuiper of the Netherlands introduced this new era when he won the 1972 Road Race.

The second major change to the cycling competitions was the introduction of women's races to the program in 1984. America's Connie Carpenter-Phinney won the road race which was also the only women's Olympic cycling event that year. The 2008 Games feature a women's road race and road time trial and ten separate track races.

The third major change is to the list of sporting events allowed at each Olympic games. The Olympic committee must ensure that the program will fit into the two week allotted timetable. Most sports are continually creating new variations and there are many ‘emerging' sports that would dearly love to join the Olympic program.

Consequently over time the cycling program has changed to accommodate the number of competitive slots allowed to the sport. Each sport is allowed to choose its own program and the UCI is the deciding body for cycling. For the 2000 Olympics the UCI introduced the Men's Madison race. For 2008 they introduced BMX races but had to eliminate other competitions to make room. For most traditional cyclists this was a very controversial decision.

The Value of ‘Gold'

In the world of cycling it is interesting to debate the relative value of certain races. What would be the most coveted prize for a road racer? A victory in one of the ‘Five Monuments', a World Championship, a victory at the Tour de France or an Olympic Gold medal.

One factor is that for road riders the big prizes are won as a member of a professional trade team. For the Olympics each rider is representing their country (not their trade teams) and the star riders are typically not afforded the same depth of intense (professional) team support. However when it comes time to re-negotiate a professional contract is an Olympic Gold of less value than say a Paris-Roubaix victory or a World Championship?

Without doubt the most effective way to cover your bases is to win “everything!” The current reigning Olympic Road Race Champion, Paolo Bettini, is also the current World Road Race Champion. His dream is to win the 2008 Olympic Gold while he is also the World Road Race Champion. If he achieves this goal then he may well retire at the end of the season while at the very pinnacle of his long and illustrious career.

Olympic Cycling 2008

For any outdoor endurance event the biggest challenge could be the much discussed issue of air pollution over the Beijing region.

Riding out of Beijing itself, the 245km road course passes historic landmarks including the Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, Yonghegong Palace and the Lama Temple. Out in the countryside seven circuits pass near the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall of China . A long, but not steep climb will be tackled seven times. The course is described as very tough with almost no chance for recuperation.

The time trial course takes in one lap of the road race.

The track riders will race in air-conditioned comfort at the newly constructed Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing.

The current Olympic Road Champion, Paolo Bettini (Italy), is favored to repeat in Beijing. However many riders are arriving with their Tour de France form and that may bring us a new champion. Our favorite is Oscar Friere (Spain) who won one stage as well as the Green Points Jersey at the Tour. He was to be seen near the front of the peloton for many of the most significant Tour climbs. With form like that he will be more than up to the climbs of the challenging Beijing road circuit. You can also count that he has three World Road Race Championships to his credit! An Olympic Gold would beautifully crown his amazing career.

The road Time Trial should also be a very interesting affair. Sadly the reigning Olympic Champion, Tyler Hamilton, is no longer a viable candidate following his well documented fall from grace due to blood-doping accusations.

For the time trial there will be a field of brilliant specialists including Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Michael Rogers (Aus), David Zabriskie (USA), Stefan Schumacher (Ger) and David Millar (GBr) all dreaming of Gold. The current World Time Trial Champion, Fabian ‘ Spartacus' Cancellara (Switzerland) is considered by many as the hands down favorite. He was handily beaten on two occasions in the recent Tour de France by Stefan Schumacher (Germany). In Cancellara's defence it must be said that he played an impeccable role as a ‘super domestique' in support of his team's overall goals at the Tour. With the luxury of proper and dedicated preparation he will be almost impossible to beat in Beijing .

This year there is great anticipation for the event as Great Britain will field the team of Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. Cavendish of course won four stages at the recent Tour de France and many expect him, along with Wiggins, to capture ‘Gold'.

Dopers Beware

In the day's leading up to the opening ceremony the media has been full of stories concerning the air pollution issue. On a par with this there is huge concern about the impact of drugs and the way that winning athletes subsequently failing post race drug tests could seriously damage these Games.

Many of us believe that this season has revealed a “cleaner” cycling peloton and that any remaining cheats are being identified. The latest case revealed Marta Bastianelli (Italy) who is the current Women's World Road Race Champion. If she fails her “B-sample” test then that will be the end of her Olympic hopes.

A New Golden Age of Cycling (?)

Cycling came into the modern Olympics in 1896 during its Victorian ‘Golden Age'. If the sport of cycling exits the 2008 Olympics without an Olympic drug scandal then maybe we can consider this entire year as the beginning of a new Golden Age of cycling.

Also Read:
“A Vintage Spring"

“Biological Passport for Pro Cyclists”

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