Kids road, track & MTB racing, Olympics style

19 July 2021

Kids road, track & MTB racing, Olympics style


The 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo are just days away, starting on 23 July 2021, and we couldn’t be more excited! The games are going to include road, track, mountain bike and BMX events for both men and women and we cannot wait to watch them!


Many Olympians have said that watching the Olympic games as a child was a defining moment for them and spurred them to become professionals at the sport they loved.


Whilst most children will just ride their bikes for fun, some decide to take it a step further by taking part in races, triathlons and cyclothons for younger riders, and it’s here that the love for the two-wheeled competition can truly grow!


Could your child be the next Olympic Cyclist?
Over the years, Frog Bikes has worked with several Olympians so we understand all too well the importance and significance of professional cycling.


Dimitris Katsanis of Metron Advanced Equipment (the man behind the all-conquering GB Team track bikes) assisted Frog Bikes in the research and development of new crank arms that reduce the pedal spacing on our bikes, also known as the Q factor, which makes it significantly easier for children to pedal. These cranks have been part of all Frog pedal bikes since June 2015.


We take a detailed look at the road, track and MTB racing at the Olympic games.


Olympic Road Racing


Road cycling has been part of the first modern Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 1984 for women. Riders select lightweight bikes with handlebars that are dropped lower than the saddle to be more aerodynamic which helps make them as efficient as possible.


The race involves a mass start on a course with both tough climbs and fast descents. The men’s race is over a distance of 241.5km and the women’s 141km. Riders can reach up to 68mph on descents and between 30-50mph on the final sprint for the line.


Drafting is a huge part of road cycling races, it is where a rider will sit behind another rider in their slipstream, it means that the wind resistance is lower and pedalling therefore is easier! The first rider to cross over the finish line is the winner.


In Atlanta, in 1996 the time trial was introduced on a course that is 54.5km for men and 29.8km for women. Time trials are less technical than road races, with fewer climbs, turns and descents - drafting is also not allowed in time trials. Riders start at 2 minutes intervals and the winner is the rider who records the fastest time. Find out more about Olympic road racing >>


Who is the biggest Road Racing icon?
BRADLEY WIGGINS, of Great Britain, became a road cycling icon in 2012 after winning the Tour de France, and Olympic Gold in the time trial with Team Sky.


Following the success of the Great British athletes in the 2012 Olympics, Team Sky was looking for a partner to help reach families and increase cycling at a grassroots level. They formed a partnership with Frog Bikes and we collaboratively launched the ‘Team Sky’ limited edition range.


Where can I find out more about this years’ Olympic Road Racing Schedule?
The road races will take place on 24 July, 25 July and 28 July 2021. To see the road-race schedule for this years Olympics click here >>


Thinking of taking up road cycling?
Road cycling has a lot to offer for all ages and abilities and the UK has some of the most beautiful, challenging and fun cycling routes in the world. The venue for road cycling begins as soon as you leave your front door. You can find many great and approved routes via the National Cycling Network.


Where can I buy a road bike for my child?
Take a look at the Frog road bike range for children >>


Olympic Track Racing


Track cycling is held in a bowl-shaped arena that is 250m round and includes 5 different events. It is one of the oldest Olympic Games disciplines, being part of the games since 1896 for men. In 1988 women’s track cycling was added.


The five different events include team sprint, match sprint, keirin, omnium and team pursuit with each event being run separately for men and women.


The team sprint - The men's event is a three-man team time trial held over three laps of a velodrome. The women's event is a two-woman event held over two laps. The current men's world record time is 41.225 seconds. The women's record is 31.928 seconds.


The match sprint - Is between two and four riders and can be anywhere between 250m to 1000m depending on the size of the velodrome. it is usually run as a one-on-one match race between opponents who start next to each other. Men's sprint has been an Olympic event at every game except 1904 and 1912 (which had no track cycling events). Women's sprints have been contested at every Olympics since 1988.


The keirin - Is where track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorized or non-motorized pacer. Races are typically 1.5 kilometres long: 6 laps on a 250m track, 4 laps on a 333m track, or 4 laps on a 400m track.


The omnium - Is a multiple race event in track cycling. Historically the omnium has had a variety of formats. The omnium was re-introduced into the World Championships as a five race track cycling format for men in 2007 and women in 2009. The omnium was changed in 2010 by the UCI to include the elimination race and the distances of the events were lengthened to favour endurance cyclists.


The team pursuit - Is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome. Both men's and women's events are competed over a distance of 4 km, by a team of 4 riders. Before the start of the 2012–13 season the women's event was competed over a distance of 3 km, by a team of 3 riders. The objective is to cover the distance quickly or catch and overtake the other team in a final.

Find out more about Olympic track cycling >>


Who is the biggest Track Cycling icon?
CHRIS HOY, of Great Britain, accepted his sixth gold medal in London 2012 to become Britain’s most decorated Olympian.


Where can I find out more about this years’ Olympic Track Racing Schedule?
Track races will take place from 3 August through to 8 August 2021. To see the full track race schedule for this years Olympics click here >>


Thinking of taking up track cycling?
The UK has a lot to offer those considering taking up track cycling, with taster sessions available at world-class indoor velodromes throughout the country, including the renowned Herne Hill Velodrome that hosted the track cycling events for the 1948 London Olympic Games.


Where can I buy a track bike for my child?
Take a look at the Frog track range for children >>


Olympic MTB Racing


Mountain biking started as an Olympic sport in 1996 with cross country events for both men and women.


The race sees competitors all start together, but placed in order of their current World ranking. They race along an on and off-road course, through technical descents, forests, rocky paths and obstacles to test riders to the extreme.


The first rider to cross the finish line after a set number of laps is the winner! The target time to finish is between 1 hour and 25 minutes and 1 hour and 40 minutes, for both the men and women’s events.Find out more about Olympic MTB racing >>


Who is the biggest MTB Racing icon?
JULIEN ABSALON, of France, is the most successful male cross-country mountain biker. Julien has won all titles available to him. From 2004 through 2007, he claimed four consecutive world titles, and in 2004 and 2008, and again in 2014, he also won the Olympic gold medal.


Where can I find out more about this years’ Olympic MTB Racing Schedule?
The men’s mountain biking race will take place on 26 July 2021 and the women’s race on 27 July 2021 on the Izu MTB course. Take a look at the MTB race schedule >>


Thinking of taking up mountain biking?
Mountain bike racing can take place on a variety of off-road venues and there are thousands of miles of accessible routes across the country to choose from. Find a world-class trail centre here >>


Where can I buy an MTB bike for my child?
Take a look at the Frog MTB range for children >>


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