London 2012 organisers have unveiled the design of the Olympic medals Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will be vying for next summer.

The Princess Royal revealed the medals, designed by David Watkins, to mark one year until the Games begin.

The front of the medal always depicts the same imagery at the summer Games – the Greek Goddess of Sport, Nike, stepping out of the depiction of the Parthenon and arriving in London.

“I hope that seeing the design of the London 2012 Olympic medals will be a source of inspiration for the thousands of athletes around the world who are counting down the year before they compete at the greatest show on earth,” said Coe.

“All of our preparations are focused on ensuring the athletes are at the heart of the Games, and I believe that through this rigorous process the panel of experts have selected an artist and a design for medals that all athletes would be proud to own.”

Each medal will weigh 375-400g, and the sport and discipline of the owner will be engraved on the rim. The back features the London 2012 logo, while the River Thames ‘is a symbol for London and also suggests a fluttering Baroque ribbon’ and a square ‘is the final balancing motif of the design.’

Great Britain’s cyclists walked away from the Beijing Olympic Games with 14 medals, including eight golds, with Hoy alone topping the podium on three separate occasions after winning the sprint, team sprint and keirin.

The London 2012 men’s road race will kick-start the cycling schedule on July 28, with Tour de France green jersey winner Cavendish among the favourites, while the women’s event takes place 24 hours later. Both the men’s and women’s time trials take place on August 1, starting and finishing at Hampton Court Palace. The track programme runs from August 2-7.