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Road Cycling Venues

The Mall and Hampton Court Palace

At London 2012, a quartet of challenging, exciting Road Cycling events will energise the streets of London and Surrey. According to popular legend, the first ever bicycle race was held in Paris in 1868, and was won by a 19-year-old cyclist from Suffolk named James Moore. It goes without saying that the sport has grown since these humble beginnings. More than 140 years after Moore’s triumph, Road Cycling events draw huge crowds and enormous TV audiences around the world, and the four Olympic medal events at London 2012 should see the streets of London and Surrey packed with passionate fans.

Venue: The Mall (Road Race); Hampton Court Palace(Time Trial)

Dates: Saturday 28 July – Wednesday 1 August

About The Mall

The Mall was created as a ceremonial route in the early 20th century. To this day, it remains a popular backdrop for formal ceremonies and major sporting events, such as the London Marathon. The Olympic and Paralympic Marathons are much smaller than the London Marathon and other mass participation events, with around 80 athletes taking part in each race. Following the celebrations to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and birthday in 2012, there will be a period of 36 days in which to erect the required temporary seating, scoreboards, video boards, tents, cabins and generators. The Road Cycling is a free event but spectators can apply for tickets to some viewing areas.

About Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is one of London's royal palaces and has housed some of Britain's most famous kings and queens, the most well known being Henry VIII. But Hampton Court has a rich sporting history too: The palace is home to the oldest surviving real tennis court in England, one of fewer than fifty real tennis courts in the world. There is also an 18-hole golf course in the palace grounds. During the London 2012 Olympic Games, Hampton Court will host the start and finish of the men's and women's Time Trials in the Road Cycling competition. Both the men's and women's Time Trials are free events.