London 2012 organisers are banking on an early Great Britain cycling gold after the schedule for next year’s Olympic Games was released.
Mark Cavendish will lead Team GB’s charge in the men’s road race on July 28 – the first full day of the Games and less than 24 hours after the opening ceremony.
The course was unveiled last week, with nine laps of a 15.5km Box Hill circuit set to star before finishing in front of Buckingham Palace on The Mall.
Defending champion Nicole Cooke will then spearhead the 140km women’s road race assault on July 29. The road race will be free to watch, apart from on the finishing straight on The Mall.
Track cycling will begin at the velodrome on – the first Olympic Park venue to be completed – on August 2, before climaxing on August 7.
The BMX medals will be decided between August 8-10, while the mountain bike competition at Hadleigh Farm, Essex, will take place on the final two days of the Games, August 11-12.
London 2012 tickets are on sale from March 15 to April 26, 2011, while tickets for the Paralympic Games go on sale on September 9, 2011. Head to www.tickets.london2012.com for more information.
London 2012 chairman Lord Sebastian Coe said: “Publishing the Olympic sports competition schedule means that everyone – athletes, coaches, spectators, broadcasters and everybody who wants to be part of London 2012 can now start planning their Games.
“The Olympic Games is the greatest show on earth, and the schedule shows the vast choice of sporting events on offer for the public to go and see. The world’s greatest athletes in every one of the 26 Olympic sports are now honing their preparation to a specific point of time on a specific date in July and August 2012.
“Families up and down the country can now plan their summer of 2012. The schedule showcases brilliant and exciting sport every single day, over 19 days, with 302 medals on offer. Our message to the public is clear – the superstars of 26 world sports are coming to the UK and you have the chance to say ‘I was there’.”
Click here to view the full London 2012 competition schedule and ticket prices.
