Cycling at the
2028 Summer Games
Cycling at LA 2028 spans four disciplines across Greater Los Angeles — track racing at the Carson Velodrome, road races finishing at the Griffith Observatory, cross-country mountain bike in the City of Industry, and BMX in the San Fernando Valley. A guide to every venue, the formats, past champions, and the history of the sport at the Summer Games.
LA 2028 Cycling Overview
Cycling at the 2028 Summer Games is one of the most geographically spread sports on the program, staged across four disciplines and multiple venues around Greater Los Angeles. Track cycling is contested at the Velodrome in Carson, road cycling runs on public roads with both events finishing at the Griffith Observatory, cross-country mountain bike is held at the Industry Hills course in the City of Industry, and BMX racing and freestyle are staged at the Sepulveda Basin in the San Fernando Valley.
The disciplines vary enormously in character — from the banked-track speed of the velodrome to the endurance of the road race, the technical climbing and descending of the mountain bike course, and the acrobatics of BMX freestyle. Track cycling carries the most medal events, while the road and off-road disciplines each stage a compact set of finals. Together they make cycling one of the larger medal hauls of the Games.
The Four Disciplines & Venues
Each cycling discipline has its own venue and its own competition rhythm. Below is how the four break down across Greater Los Angeles for the 2028 Games.
LA 2028 Cycling Venues
Cycling’s four disciplines are spread across four venue zones. Track cycling is at the Velodrome in Carson, a world-class 250-metre track built in 2004 from Siberian pine and located near the site of the 1984 Games velodrome. Road cycling finishes at the Griffith Observatory, an iconic hilltop landmark above the city. Mountain bike is at the Industry Hills course in the City of Industry, and BMX is at the Sepulveda Basin in the Valley. For official Games information see the official LA28 organizing committee, and for the sport’s international body see the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
A Return to Carson
The Velodrome in Carson has hosted major international competition since opening in 2004, including the 2005 World Championships, and sits close to the now-demolished velodrome used at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Its selection continues Southern California’s long track-cycling heritage. The road finish at the Griffith Observatory, meanwhile, gives the 2028 races one of the most recognizable backdrops in the sport — an uphill finish on the slopes of Mount Hollywood with the Los Angeles Basin spread out below.
Cycling at the Summer Games: History
Cycling has featured at every modern Summer Games since the first edition in 1896, originally as track events. Road cycling was added in 1912, mountain bike made its debut in 1996, BMX racing arrived in 2008, and BMX freestyle joined the program in 2020. The result is one of the broadest sports on the Games calendar, spanning velodrome sprinting to off-road endurance and freestyle acrobatics.
Great Britain has been the dominant force in track cycling across the modern era, with the Netherlands, France, Australia, and others also strong. Road cycling draws the sport’s leading professional riders, while mountain bike and BMX have seen powers rise across Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The United States has historically been strongest in BMX and has produced road and track medalists across the years.
Cycling Disciplines at a Glance
| Discipline | Games Debut | LA 2028 Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Track | 1896 | Velodrome, Carson |
| Road | 1912 | Griffith Observatory finish |
| Mountain Bike | 1996 | Industry Hills |
| BMX Racing | 2008 | Sepulveda Basin |
| BMX Freestyle | 2020 | Sepulveda Basin |
What to Expect at LA 2028
Cycling offers some of the most varied spectating of the entire Games. Track cycling delivers medal-dense evening sessions in an enclosed velodrome; road cycling is free to watch along much of its course, culminating in a dramatic climb to the Griffith Observatory; mountain bike puts spectators close to technical off-road action; and BMX combines high-speed racing with judged freestyle in a compact park setting.
The Field
Track cycling’s leading nations include Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, Australia, and Italy. Road cycling features the sport’s top professional riders competing for national teams. In mountain bike, European nations have led recent Games, while BMX has been strong across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, with the United States a consistent presence in the BMX disciplines.
US Interest
A home Games gives American riders a strong platform, particularly in BMX, where the US has deep grassroots roots, and on the road, where the Griffith Observatory finish provides a marquee home stage. The spread of venues across Greater Los Angeles also makes cycling one of the more accessible sports to combine with others during a Games visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Sports at LA 2028
Cycling is one of many sports on the 2028 program. Individual sport guides for LA 2028 are listed below.
Plan Your LA 2028 Cycling Trip
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