A first breakaway takes off in the Yvelines… Follow the race online

The double world champion and three other Frenchmen will notably face Wout Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel on Saturday over a 273 km course.

It is one of the most anticipated races of the Olympic Games. The starting signal for the men’s cycling road race is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 3. Starting at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, there will be 90 riders, including four French: Valentin Madouas, Kévin Vauquelin, Christophe Laporte, the reigning European champion, and Julian Alaphilippe, world champion in 2020 and 2021, with real chances of medals. Under the mandate of coach Thomas Voeckler, the Blues have already won nine medals in 11 international campaigns.

On a 273 km long course, marked by the climb of the Montmartre hill three times, punchers and fans of Flemish classics will have a chance to play. Among the main favourites, we will therefore find the Belgian Wout Van Aert, reigning Olympic vice-champion, and his Dutch rival Mathieu van der Poel, who this time skipped the mountain bike. But, with teams of four riders maximum and without earpieces, surprises cannot be ruled out. Tadej Pogacar, winner of the 2024 Tour de France, has withdrawn.