A multi-format sport raced on bicycles across road stages, track ovals, mountain trails, and BMX dirt courses.
Origin and rules
Cycling races began in 1860s France within months of the velocipede’s invention. The Union Cycliste Internationale was founded in 1900 and now sanctions seven competitive disciplines plus indoor cycling and cycle-ball.
How it plays
Road cycling features one-day classics and multi-stage tours like the Tour de France, won on aggregate time. Track cycling on a banked velodrome covers sprint, pursuit, and bunch races. Mountain biking, BMX racing, BMX freestyle, and cyclo-cross add off-road formats.
Competition
The UCI Road World Championships, the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and the Vuelta a Espana headline the road calendar. The UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the Olympics gather all disciplines. Cycling has been on the Olympic programme since 1896.
Find more sports by letter
Cycling starts with C and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Cycling":