Coming off the back of the world’s biggest bike race and with no WorldTour points on offer, just how relevant is the Olympic road race in today’s cycling calender? Does a gold medal compare with a victory at Paris-Roubaix?
I remember three things about the Olympic road race in Beijing. One, it seemed to go forever (245.5 kilometres – the longest in Olympic history although London will be longer), two, there was no one watching (Chinese security decided that it was unsafe to allow any spectators), and three, the obvious delight of Sammy Sanchez as he crossed the finish line, resplendent in the red, yellow and white jersey of the Spanish national team.
In a sport dominated by trade teams, indeed, dependant upon trade teams, it was refreshing to see the riders representing their respective countries. Yes, this happens at the world championships as well, but the Olympics are on a truly global stage, and the small matter of them only coming around every four years does make them special. Some riders have the opportunity to represent their countries at smaller events, such as the Commonwealth games, but they are against limited opposition. The Olympics are open to all.
That Sanchez reacted so jubilantly as he crossed the line should tell us something about the esteem a games medal is held in. The quality of the field chasing him tells us more. Fabian Cancellara was second, Alexandr Kolobnov was third and the chasing bunch contained Cadel Evans, Michael Rogers, Andy Schleck, Levi Leipheimer, Alejandro Valverde and Robert Gesink. All wanted glory, not for their employers – the ones who pay them to ride – but for national pride.
A quick check of the record books show recent Olympics have been dominated by some of the biggest names in the sport. In Athens Paolo Bettini sprinted to victory. In Sydney Jan Ullrich, Alexandre Vinokourov and Andreas Kloden made up the top three.
Take it seriously do they? You bet they do. It is a race that the biggest riders want to win. One of Lance Armstrong’s regrets was never having medalled at the games and Lance doesn’t usually do regrets.
Unlike the UCI’s calender of events, the Olympic road race has yet to fall prey to ‘non-traditional’ cycling nations. In fact Australia’s only ever medallist was Clyde Sefton, a boy from country Victoria, who claimed silver in Munich, 1972. He backed this up with Commonwealth gold two years later and was a two time national road champion (once as an amateur). Over the years he won multiple stages of the Herald Sun Tour (11) and claimed the general classification in 1981. He also rode with some success in Italy, counting among his team mates Francesco Moser and Felice Gimondi.
Hopefully Australia can add to that lean medal tally after this year’s event.
While Beijing was a mainly dull race lacking atmosphere, London should be the complete opposite. With the country riding on a cycling boom and with hometown heroes such as Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins huge chances to medal, the racing will be furious and the atmosphere electric. Whoever stands atop the podium on Saturday evening (AEST), will know they have been in a contest and any thoughts of it being ‘just another race’ will have been well and truly buried. This is a medal that the riders want, especially Cavendish, but there are plenty who will try and spoil his party.
There will be breakaways, there will be a chase, there will be a sprint, there will be falls and there will be bravery. But there will only be one gold medal. It may not be Paris-Roubaix, but it is the Olympic games. Mess this race up and you might not get another opportunity.
Footnote: Here is an interesting exercise – If you had the choice of winning Paris-Roubaix or the Olympic road race, which would you choose? I have been swaying from one to the other and can’t decide. Initially I was thinking Paris-Roubaix because of the history and the difficulty of winning such an event. But then I started thinking about standing on the top step of the Olympic podium, listening to the national anthem and watching my country’s flag being raised, all with a gold medal hanging around my neck. That sounds pretty attractive as well. Which would you choose?
Bones506
Roar Guru
Cracking comment. And lines up with everything ex national champions have told me about it when they hit the course this year. Cracked frames, busted wheels, a pile of flats. Toughest man wins on the day - so true. Hanging for Spartacus, Sagan and Cancellara to go at it again next year.
Bones506
Roar Guru
The Olympic course changes every 4 years and offers something different which is great and allows different styles of riders to win it but PR is such an iconic race. Those people that don't follow cycling would not even know of it. To those that do it is a revered race and breaks man and machine. It is still, and always will be, the hard mans race.
Herbie
Guest
Maybe I should say - back in 1985 I rode the Paris-Roubaix 'Cyclo' (sic. yes that was before they were rechristened 'cyclo-sportives'). In those days the 'sportive' wasn't run off in the summer but in April close to the actual event. We had mud and filth, and I saw crashes galore. I had a nice relaxed frame, and 700X28 tyres. Hit the first section of cobbles, and couldn't believe it. Nothing had prepared me for the size of the cobbles, like great domed loaves of bread, with gaps between them just wide enough for your tyre. As the front wheel slid right into a gap off the domed top of a cobble, the back wheel slid left. The only way to ride was fast across the tops and slightly diagonal. When I got to Orchie, after half the cobbled sections the mud had built up so thick in the angles of my frame it looked like I had an aero frame with mud infills, and the wheels would barely pass through the brakes - which were useless with the mud and rain. We had a hose down there and got going again. The whole thing took 9 hrs, and I saw people with broken frames sitting in fields crying. Since then I have done many sportives and Etapes, including the Tour of Flanders whose cobbles are like setts in a company car-park in comparison, but then that does have the hills. However, nothing compares with the toughness of Paris-Roubaix. It is just the toughest man wins on the day! That's why I rate above most else.
Alex
Guest
Definately PR over the Olympics for me but the worlds as #1. A rainbow jersey would be amazing to wear. However now that Cavendish has one I reckon he would rather win gold then win 3 more rainbow jerseys, especially at home. And the thing I am most looking forward to is Sammy Sanchez not having good trimmings anymore. Bloody excessive prolonged celebration for winning one race
Sean Lee
Expert
One day races are usually more attacking as well because there is no tomorrow. Stage racing is an entirely different beast. It is test cricket as opposed to T20.
Sean Lee
Expert
No doubt about it, to win Roubaix is to become a cycling immortal. It is such a mongrel race and held in such regard by all associated with cycling. It is a real throw back to how tough cycling used to be (without the spare tubes looped around the riders' shoulders). Doubt I'd have the strength to lift the trophy in the unlikely event that I should win the bloody thing! I'm swaying back towards Roubaix Bonesy!
Justin Curran
Roar Rookie
I reckon the grand kids would be more impressed with a shiny gold medal than a big rock
Bones506
Roar Guru
Cadel noted in an interview that Winning the worlds is massive in cycling. Winning The TDF is big across the globe. To the hard core cyclists I think Worlds and Roubaix is much the same. Herbie raises. Great poin about the history and ardour of Roubaix. I personally woul cherish a cobble and m name in the shower block over an olympic RR gold medal.
Cantab
Guest
As a casual fan, I enjoy watching the Olympics much more than the tour, it might be a long race but at least its over in a day!
Sean Lee
Expert
Yes, it brings cycling to a wider audience, at least for a short time. To be a successful member of the Olympic family would be a pretty special thing.
Sean Lee
Expert
Good point - For Cavendish especially, and riding in front of his home crowd as well, at this moment in time, nothing is more important for him.
Sean Lee
Expert
Thanks for your response Herbie. I was initially like you, thinking that the classics would outweigh and Olympic medal, but the more I thought about it, the more I began to waver. I think you are right - in cycling circles you would be remembered more for winning a monument or grand tour, with the Olympic medal as an interesting footnote on your palmares. But, as an individual, that chance to stand on the podium after winning gold for your country must rank up there as a life defining moment. The question is too hard for me.
Sean Lee
Expert
Kuiper was a great rider and my first draft of this article had his details included. I culled them out later to make the article more 'streamlined'. I find it fascinating that he rates the Olympics so highly. Thanks for sharing that.
Sean Lee
Expert
It was the reaction of Sanchez that got me thinking about this topic. There was nothing contrived about his victory celebration, he was just overjoyed to win. It made up for what was a pretty tedious race.
Herbie
Guest
What a great question - for me though the history and ardour of Paris-Roubaix outways the exclusivity of the 4-yearly Olympic RR Gold, and I'd also put the Olympics behind the World Championships. So for one day professional RRs I'd have Worlds, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders, then Olympics, with then other classics. The Olympics are important to the non-cycling world, and maybe if your thing is fame then the Olympics would mean more to you, but for a cyclist the Olympics don't really cut it. I've spent the last few days explaining to parenets, friends and colleagues, repeatedly, why the Tour de France win eclipses any win in the Olympics! Some get it, some don't.
Guy
Guest
I met Hennie Kuiper one day. He not only won the 1972 Munich Olympic Road Race as an amateur but also Paris Roubaix, Milam San Remo, tour of Lombardy, Tour of Flanders, World Professional Road Race, 2nd in Tour de France etc. i asked him what his most important/best win was. Olympic Road Race and he was surprised I had to ask.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Those Pebbles are actually huge cobbles that break wheels, bikes and prissy little Moutain climbers. PR is for the hard men of cycling. Most riders cannot participate in PR as they are simply to soft.
Bones506
Roar Guru
As noted - the Spanish would not care about PR. A huge portion of riders, including the Spanish, do not have the power or size to actually compete in PR.
Moses
Roar Rookie
If I had the choice I would prefer an Olympic gold medal because I couldn’t tolerate riding on those little pebbles. But in all seriousness, there are only three races in the world in which pretty much all the top riders participate: the TdF, the Olympics and Worlds. I think prestige is to be judged accordingly. I'd therefore put Olympic road race gold second or third on the list headed by a TdF win.
NickF
Guest
As above, every 4 years makes it special, and for your country as well. But winning a gold olypiic medal does not only make you the best in your sport in the world, it puts you in a class with the best 100 metres, the best marathon, pole vaulter, 1500 swimmer and so on. It crosses all sporting boundaries.