Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics - Men's road race
Encyclopedia
The men's road race was the only road cycling
event on the Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics
programme. The course was 87 kilometres long and the race was held on 12 April.
The only road race took place on 12 April. It was 87 kilometres long, with contestants cycling to the city of Marathon
and back. Seven cyclists entered the event, including the German August von Gödrich
, the Briton Edward Battel
, and five Greeks.
Konstantinidis led from the start until after the turn at Marathon. His bicycle broke down on the return journey, allowing Battel time to pass him before he was able to get another bicycle and continue. Both Konstantinidis and Battel fell again before finishing, with Battel's fall being severe enough to drop him from first place to third as both Konstantinidis and Gödrich passed him.
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
event on the Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics
Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, six cycling events were contested at the Neo Phaliron Velodrome. They were organized and prepared by the Sub-Committee for Cycling. Events were held on 8 April, 11 April, 12 April and 13 April 1896...
programme. The course was 87 kilometres long and the race was held on 12 April.
Results
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3:22:31 | |
| 2 | 3:42:18 | |
| 3 | Unknown | |
| 4-7 | Unknown | |
| Unknown | ||
| Unknown | ||
| Unknown |
The only road race took place on 12 April. It was 87 kilometres long, with contestants cycling to the city of Marathon
Marathon, Greece
Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
and back. Seven cyclists entered the event, including the German August von Gödrich
August von Gödrich
August von Gödrich was a German racing cyclist. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens....
, the Briton Edward Battel
Edward Battel
Edward Battell was a British racing cyclist. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.Battell competed in the 333 metres, 100 kilometres, and road races. He came third in the road race, 87 km from Athens to Marathon and back. He came fourth in the 333m in 26.2 seconds...
, and five Greeks.
Konstantinidis led from the start until after the turn at Marathon. His bicycle broke down on the return journey, allowing Battel time to pass him before he was able to get another bicycle and continue. Both Konstantinidis and Battel fell again before finishing, with Battel's fall being severe enough to drop him from first place to third as both Konstantinidis and Gödrich passed him.