Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics

• Road, held on the streets of Athens.
• Track, held at the Olympic Velodrome.
• Mountain, held at the Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue.

In the World and Olympic Records table shown at the start of each track event's subsection, the records in question were those which existed before the event.

Medal Table

For the full medals table, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Medal Table.

Road cycling

Road Race Men

In a race that showed numerous break away attempts, it wasn't until Paolo Bettini and Sergio Paulinho broke away from the group with a couple of laps remaining and opened up a comfortable gap on the final lap that an idea of the medal positions could be gained. With the peloton giving up the chase of the leaders, Axel Merckx broke away to open up a sufficient gap for him to take bronze. Bettini out sprinted Paulinho for the gold, finishing in a time of 5 hours 41.44 minutes. Among the other pre-race favourites, World Champion Igor Astarloa of Spain crashed on the opening lap, and 2000 Olympic road race champion Jan Ullrich finished among the peloton in 19th. A number of other top names in the field, including Germany's Andreas Klöden and Russia's Viatcheslav Ekimov, pulled out before the end of the race, presumably with the Time Trial race, to be held four days later, in mind.

Date: August 14

Start: 12:45

(Places 11–37 same time) For full classification, and a list of retirements, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games – Road Race Men.

Road Race Women

The peloton finally split on the penultimate lap, with a small group going clear that contained a number of the favourites, and significantly two Australian cyclists, Sara Carrigan and Oenene Wood. When Carrigan broke from this group on the final lap, only Judith Arndt was able or willing to chase her down, and the pair stayed clear until the end, Carrigan out sprinting Arndt for the line. Russian sprinter Olga Slyusareva won the chase for bronze ahead of Wood and Nicole Cook of Britain, who had had to work hard to catch up with the chasing group after hitting a barrier on the final lap. The 2000 Olympic champion, Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel of the Netherlands clipped another rider and crashed out on the penultimate lap.

Date: August 15

Start: 15:00

For full classification and a list of retirments, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games – Road Race Women.

Time Trial Men

Of the top riders, it soon became clear that Sydney 2000 time trial gold medal winner, Russian rider Viatcheslav Ekimov, was setting the time to beat. The current world time trial champion, Michael Rogers from Australia, appeared to match Ekimov's times, but faded in the final kilometres. Tyler Hamilton, from the USA, had problems with his radio shortly after the start, and rode the race effectively without radio communication. Hamilton finished strongly claiming the gold medal for the USA, averaging 50.062 km/h to finish the 48 km course in 57:31.74. Ekimov was awarded the silver medal, with a time of 57:50.58 nearly 19 seconds behind Hamilton. With Bobby Julich from the USA in a time of 57:58.19 inching out Michael Rogers (58:01.67) for the bronze medal.

Michael Rich (58:09.46) from Germany finished 37 seconds behind Hamilton for fifth, with Kazakhstan rider Alexandre Vinokourov 1:26 behind the leader. The last person to start, the 2000 Olympics road race winner and former world time trial champion, Jan Ulrich from Germany, could not match the pace and ended with a time of 59:02.04, one and a half minutes behind Hamilton in seventh position.

Tyler Hamilton's gold medal came into question when he failed a blood doping test. He was allowed to keep the tainted medal after a lab mix-up spoiled the backup blood sample.

Date: August 18

Start: 15:00

1. Tyler Hamilton, United States 57:31.74
2. Viatcheslav Ekimov, Russia 57:50.58
3. Bobby Julich, United States 57:58.19
4. Michael Rogers, Australia 58:01.67
5. Michael Rich, Germany 58:09.46

For full classification and a list of retirements, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games – Time Trial Men.

Time Trial Women

Zijlaard-Van Moorsel, who had crashed on the penultimate lap of the road race three days earlier, showed no serious damage had been done as she successfully defended her Olympic individual time trial title.

Date: August 18

Start: 13:00

1. Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, Netherlands 31:11.53
2. Deirdre Demet-Barry, United States 31:35.62
3. Karin Thuerig, Switzerland 31:54.89
4. Chirstine Thorburn, United States 32:14.82
5. Lada Kozlikova, Czech Republic 32:15.41

For full classification, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games – Time Trial Women.

Track Cycling

Individual Pursuit Men

Records

In a reversal of the 2002 Commonwealth Games final, where McGee had caught Wiggins before the end, the Brit took the title in a new Olympic Record time, his team-mate losing the bronze medal race to Escobar.

August 20, 16:30
Final

1. Bradley Wiggins, Great Britain 4:16.304
2. Brad McGee, Australia 4:20.436

Final Classfication

1. Bradley Wiggins, Great Britain
2. Brad McGee, Australia
3. Sergi Escobar, Spain
4. Rob Hayles, Great Britain
5. Volodymyr Dyuda, Ukraine

For full results, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Individual Pursuit Men.

Individual Pursuit Women

Records

In the women's 3000 m individual pursuit, the current world champion and world record holder, Sarah Ulmer from New Zealand, set a new world record in the final for a time of 3:24.537 for the gold medal. It is the first time New Zealand has ever won a cycling gold medal. The Australian, Katie MacTier (3:27.650), set a very fast first 1000 m of 1:10.618, with a lead of one second, but Ulmer reversed this lead in the second 1000 m, and went on to win the pursuit by 3 seconds. Netherlands rider and former world champion, Leontien Ziljaard-van Moorsel rode a time of 3:27.037 for the bronze defeating Australian, Katherine Bates (3:31.715)

Ulmer held the world record coming into this event at 3:30.604 set at the world championships in Melbourne in May 2004. She has reduced the world record by more than 6 seconds on this track. Leontien Ziljaard-van Moorsel was the 2000 gold medal winner with the old Olympic record of 3:30.816

Final 1–2

1. Sarah Ulmer, New Zealand, 3:24.537 WR
2. Katie MacTier, Australia 3:27.650

Final Classification

1. Sarah Ulmer, New Zealand
2. Katier MacTier, Australia
3. Leontien Ziljaard-van Moorsel, Netherlands
4. Katherine Bates, Australia
5. Karin Thuerig, Switzerland

For full classification and results, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Individual Pursuit Women.

Team Pursuit Men

The Australia-Great Britain rivalry continued in an event which saw a new world record.

3rd-4th Place Final

Spain, 4:05.523

Germany, 4:07.193

Final

Australia, 3:58.233

Great Britain, 4:01.760

For full classification and results Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Team Pursuit Men.

200m Sprint Men

Australian Ryan Bayley, defeated current world champion, Theo Bos from the Netherlands, when the sprinting gold medal was taken to a third decider race. In the race for the bronze Rene Wolff from Germany defeated Laurent Gane from France.

3rd-4th Places

1. Rene Wolff, Germany 1st: 10.677 s, 2nd: 10.612 s
2. Laurent Gane, France

1st-2nd Places

1. Ryan Bayley, Australia, 2nd: 10.661 s, Decider: 10.743 s
2. Theo Bos, Netherlands, 1st: 10.710 s

Final Classfication

1. Ryan Bayley, Australia
2. Theo Bos, Netherlands
3. Rene Wolff, Germany
4. Laurent Gane, France
5. Ross Edgar, Great Britain

For full classification and results, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – 200m Sprint Men.

200m Sprint Women

Final 3–4

1. Anna Meares, AUS, 1st: 12.042 s, 2nd: 11.822 s
2. Svetlana Grankovskaya, RUS

Final 1–2

1. Lori-Ann Muenzer, CAN, 1st: 12.126 s, 2nd: 12.140 s
2. Tamilla Abassova, RUS

Final classification

1. Lori-Ann Muenzer, Canada
2. Tamilla Abassova, Russia
3. Anna Meares, Australia
4. Svetlana Grankovskaya, Russia
5. Natallia Tsylinskaya, Belarus

For full classification and results, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – 200m Sprint Women.

Team Sprint Men

Final 3–4

1. France 44.359
2. Australia 44.404

Final 1–2

1. Germany 43.980
2. Japan 44.246

Final classification

1. Germany
2. Japan
3. France
4. Australia
5. Great Britain

For full classification and results, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Team Sprint Men.

500m Time Trial Women

In a field of personal bests, 20 year old World Champion for the 500 m time trial, Anna Meares from Australia, set a new world record to claim the gold medal in 33.952 seconds. The previous world record was held by Yonghua Jiang of China, who minutes previously had set a new Olympic record in this event to claim the silver medal with a time of 34.112 seconds. Natallia Tsylinskaya from Belarus was awarded the bronze medal.

1000m Time Trial Men

In a fascinating event the Olympic Record was broken four times, the final time by Chris Hoy of Great Britain retaining the title for his country that Jason Queally had won in Sydney four years previous.

Points Race Men

The Points race consisted of 160 laps (40 km) with 16 sprints where points are awarded, plus the opportunity for 20 points if a rider laps the peleton. Riders can also lose 20 points if the peleton laps them. The young Russian rider, Mikhail Ignatyev, carefully watched the breaks and did four extra laps for 80 points. Several other riders managed to do one, two, or three extra laps, but it wasn't enough to catch Ignatyev.

1. Mikhail Ignatyev, Russia 93 points
   
2. Joan Llaneras, Spain 82 points
   
3. Guido Fulst, Germany 79 points
   
4. Greg Henderson, New Zealand 68 points
   
5. Milan Kadlec, Czech Republic 65 points
   

For full classification and a list of retirements, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games – Points Race Men.

Points Race Women

The Women's points race is 100 laps of the velodrome (25 km) with 10 sprints, where points are awarded, plus the opportunity for 20 points if a rider laps the peleton. Riders can also lose 20 points if the peleton laps them. Russian sprinter and 2004 Olympics roads race bronze medallist, Olga Slyusareva, was able to win three of the ten sprints, and place in four other sprints to achieve 20 points. The peleton was able to respond to any breakaways so no riders were able to achieve lap points. Mexican rider Belem Guerrero Mendez with 14 points was awarded the silver medal, closely followed by Maria Luisa Calle Williams from Colombia on 12 points. However, Calle Williams later tested positive for banned stimulant heptaminol, and Erin Mirabella was promoted to the bronze medal position.

1. Olga Slyusareva, Russia 20 points
2. Belem Guerrero Mendez, Mexico 14 points
3. Maria Luisa Calle Williams, Colombia 12 points (later disqualified)
4. Erin Mirabella, USA 9 points
5. Vera Carrara, Italy 8 points

For full classification and a list of retirements, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Points Race Women.

Keirin Men

Sprint gold medallist from Australia, Ryan Bayley, blitzed the field in the Keirin to win the gold medal, with Spain's Jose Escuedo winning silver. Coming around the final bend Mickael Bourgain from France was forced up the slope and crashed. Subsequently race officials ruled that Rene Wolff from Germany, who was the third to cross the line, moved outward "with the intention of forcing Bourgain up.", and elevated Australian Shane Kelly, to the bronze medal.

1. Ryan Bayley, Australia
2. Jose Escuedo, Spain
3. Shane Kelly, Australia
4. DNF Mickael Bourgain, France
5. REL Rene Wolff, Germany
6. REL Josiah NG, Malaysia
7. Lukasz Kwiatkowski, Poland
8. Jens Fiedler, Germany
9. Labros Vasilopoulos, Greece
10. REL Ivan Vrba, Czech Republic

DNS Theo Bos, Netherlands
DNS Jamie Staff, Great Britain

Madison Men

The Madison is a two person team event of 200 laps of the velodrome (50 km) with 10 sprints, where points are awarded. Lap points are also awarded. Several teams were able to achieve breakaways for lap points. The Australian team of Stuart O'Grady and Graeme Brown rode consistently to achieve points in seven of the 10 sprints for a total of 22 lap points and the gold medal. The Swiss team of Franco Marvulli and Bruno Risi finished strongly winning the last three sprints for 15 lap points and the silver medal. British team of Rob Hayles and Bradley Wiggins achieved 12 lap points for the bronze medal, despite being in a fall mid race.

1. Australia, Graeme Brown, Stuart O'Grady 22 lap points
2. Switzerland, Franco Marvulli, Bruno Risi 15 lap points
3. Great Britain, Rob Hayles, Bradley Wiggins 12 lap points
4. Germany, Robert Bartko, Guido Fulst 9 lap points
5. Ukraine, Volodymyr Rybin, Vasyl Yakovlev 9 lap points
6. Spain, Miquel Alzamora, Joan Llaneras 7 lap points
7. New Zealand, Greg Henderson, Hayden Roulston, 2 lap points
8. Austria, Roland Garber, Franz Stocher 1 lap down
9. Argentina, Juan Esteban Curuchet, Walter Perez 1 lap down
10. Uruguay, Tomas Margalef, Milton Wynants 1 lap down
11. Belgium, Matthew Gilmore, Iljo Keisse 1 lap down
12. Kazakhstan, Ilya Chernyshov, Yuriy Yuda 1 lap down
13. Czech Republic, Milan Kadlec, Petr Lazar 1 lap down
14. Netherlands, Robert Slippens, Danny Stam 1 lap down
15. Slovakia, Martin Liska, Jozef Zabka 2 laps down
16. Colombia, Leonardo Duque, Jose Rodolfo Serpa 2 laps down
17. Russia, Oleg Grishkin, Alexey Shmidt 2 laps down

DNF: France, Jerome Neuville, Matthieu Ladagnous

Mountain Biking

Cross Country Men

The event consisted of 1 start loop and 7 full loops around a circuit – totalling 43.3km. August 28 11:00

1. Julien Absalon, (FRA) 2:15:02
2. Jose Antonio Hermida, (ESP) 2:16:02
3. Bart Brentjens, (NED) 2:17:05
4. Roel Paulissen (BEL) 2:18:10
5. Liam Killeen (GBR) 2:18:32

For full classification and a list of retirements, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Cross Country Men.

Cross Country women

The pre-race favourite, Norway's Gunn-Rita Dahle, dominated the race throughout, despite a fall that damaged the gears on her bicycle. The reigning world champion Sabine Spitz overtook Alison Sydor late in the race to claim bronze, behind Marie-Helene Premont. The winner of the gold medal at the previous two Olympics, Paola Pezzo of Italy, did not finish.

The race consisted of 1 start loop and 5 full loop, a total of 31.3km.

August 27, 11:00

1. Gunn-Rita Dahle (NOR): 1:56:51
2. Marie-Helene Premont (CAN): 1:57:50
3. Sabine Spitz (GER): 1:59:21
4. Alison Sydor (CAN): 1:59:47
5. Elsbeth van Rooy-Vink (NED): 2:01:41

For full classification and a list of retirements, view Cycling at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Cross Country Women.

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