Cycling is one of four sports to have been present in the modern Olympics since 1896, Great Britain has achieved the second highest tally of medals with 63 behind France with 86.

Track

Track cycling comprises a number of different races that take place on a closed, banked circuit called a velodrome. Originating in Europe as winter training for road cyclists, today's race formats vary from individual races against the clock to group events that end in breathtaking sprints off the final bend. Track racing is one of the purest and fastest forms of cycle sport. The bikes have no brakes and are controlled by a "fixed" wheel system, which means that rather than freewheeling, the rider controls the speed of the cycle with pressure on the pedals.

Did you know...? The average steepest gradient of a typical track is 42 degrees. The track is banked to allow racers to ride the 180 degree bends without slowing down.

There is only one gear on a track bicycle. So rather than start in an easy gear and change to a harder gear, riders must start the race in a high gear, requiring a huge push to get the pedals turning.

In Beijing, two Brits set the Olympic records for the individual sprint category in Beijing. Chris Hoy set his record for the men while Victoria Pendleton set the record for the Women.

At the Beijing Olympics we saw one of the most successful British men's teams set the World record time for the Team Pursuit (4000m).

Road

It is common in team cycling, such as the Tour de France, that members of a team will sacrifice individual glory for their team leader to win the race. In the 2011 Tour de France, Great Britain's Mark Cavendish won 5 of the stages and the coveted Green Jersey - the first British rider ever to do so. British riders have also competed well in the women's version of the Tour de France, La Grande Boucle. Current Olympic Road Race Champion, Nicole Cooke won in 2006 and 2007 and Olympic silver medalist in the Time Trial, Emma Pooley, won in 2009.

Did you know…?

In the 2011 World Championships, Lucy Garner (UK School Games 2010 Champion in the Girls Road Race) won the junior road race to become the World Junior Champion and Elinor Barker (UK School Games 2010 Champion in the Girls Team Time Trial) took the silver medal in the junior time trial event. Britain also won 4 other medals, including Mark Cavendish being crowned the Men's World Road Race Champion.