Glasgow 2014 - Commonwealth Games Sports Guide: Cycling

By Steven Oldham

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This is the first of a daily series of guides for each sport in this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, giving you all the need-to-know information for each sport.

Each guide will include when and where the sport is taking place, likely medal contenders and a quick run through to make you a little more knowledgeable before the Games start.
Despite only being an optional sport at the Commonwealths, cycling has been ever present at the Games since 1934.

Events in track, road and mountain biking are all scheduled to take place this summer in Glasgow and there are also para-sport events for both men and women.

WHEN?

Cycling takes place over seven days. Mountain biking is settled on one day, July 29. The road events happen on July 31 and August 3. Four busy days of track action take place between July 24 and 27.

WHERE?

Track cycling will take place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow's east end,  while road events - free for the public to attend - will take place around the city centre. See the Glasgow 2014 website for maps. Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails will host the off-road events, around 15 minutes drive away from the city centre.

WHO?  

Australia were dominant four years ago, with a haul of 14 golds from a possible 18. Anna Meares was the star of the squad picking up three golds in both individual and team events and will be looking for more success here. Fellow Delhi champions Jack Bobridge, Shane Perkins Scott Sunderland and Michael Hepburn will also look to take up where they left off in India four years ago. 
It's unlikely the Aussies will win as many this time. The all-conquering British squad from London 2012, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott, Jason Kenny, Ed Clancy, Dani King, Philip Hindes and Geraint Thomas will all be in action and will undoubtedly look to benefit from competing in Britain again with a partisan crowd cheering them on in their home nations' colours.
The Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish will be one of the most popular competitors in Glasgow if he competes, having dislocated his shoulder after crashing in the opening stage of the Tour de France on July 5.

LET ME SOUND LIKE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...

• Don't ask where Sir Chris Hoy is - he retired after the last Olympics despite hopes he'd carry on to take part in a home Commonwealths
• Track events come in two categories - sprints and endurance events up to 4000m.
• The event where riders start behind a motorbike pacer before being let loose is the keirin. The multi-discipline event, the omnium, will not be contested in Glasgow.
• Mountain biking is included in the Commonwealth Games for only the third time since debuting in 2002.
• Josiah Ng, set to ride again this year, won Malaysia's first ever cycling gold at the Commonwealths in the keirin in Delhi four years ago.

CAN I STILL BUY TICKETS?

Yes. Click here. Remember, you don't need tickets to view the road events. Just turn up on the day.

Will Mark Cavendish return from injury to compete in Glasgow?