We want your visit to the Road Race to be as memorable as possible. Make sure you’re prepared for your London 2012 experience by reading the information below – and don’t forget to plan your travel in advance.
If you have a ticket for the Road Race, go to the visitor information pages for Box Hill or The Mall
When is it?
The Cycling Road Race events take place on the first weekend of the Olympic Games. The men’s event (250km) starts at 10am on Saturday 28 July, and the women’s event (140km) starts at 12 noon on Sunday 29 July.
Find out more about the Road Race
Where is it?
The Road Race route starts and finishes in the ticketed area of The Mall in central London, and travels out of London through the boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth, through Richmond Park and Kingston, before taking riders through the Surrey countryside. With the exception of the ticketed areas at The Mall and Box Hill, all sections of the race are free to watch and offer some excellent viewing locations.
If you're planning on going to Box Hill, please be aware that there is limited capacity so you may be turned away if areas are full.
Download the Road Race route map
Top tips
If you’re thinking of going to watch the Road Race, it’s important you plan your day in advance. Here are our tips on how to enjoy a memorable day:
- Plan your day in advance – read the information on these pages and sign up to our dedicated e-newsletter. If you live in Surrey, you can also visit www.gosurrey.info
- Stay local – if you’re lucky enough to live close to the route, please walk or cycle to your nearest viewing point. It is the easiest, healthiest and most sustainable way to get around during the Games, and many roads will be closed.
- Get there early to secure a good spot – London and Surrey will be much busier than usual so think about a couple of places where you might want to watch, and arrive early.
- Don’t drive – there will be extensive road closures along the route, and there is no parking available. For details of road closures in London, visit the Get Ahead of the Games website
- Check online before you set off – journey times and routes may change during the Games, so check the most up-to-date travel information before you leave home
- Be prepared to wait – with increased numbers of spectators in and around London at Games time, there will be longer queues for everything from the Tube to the toilets.
- Come prepared for all types of weather – this is an outdoor event so check the weather forecast the night before the race. Make sure you bring plenty of water, snacks, sun cream, hats, something warm and of course an umbrella.
Each London Borough has a dedicated Olympic area on their website where you can also find visitor information. Surrey also has a dedicated site for all Olympic activity happening in the county.
If you are planning on watching the race in Richmond or Bushy Park, for the safety of the public and athletes, dogs must be kept on leads. This reduces the risk of the dangers associated with dogs chasing deer.
For a comprehensive list of what is going on around the Road Race route, search our events listings
Estimated rider times
Download a list showing the times at which riders are expected to pass various points on the course (please bear in mind that these times are approximate and may be plus or minus 15 minutes). These locations are for timing guidance only, and may not necessarily be the best place for you to watch the race.
Want to ride the route?
If you’re a cycling enthusiast, you may want to cycle along the official Olympic Road Race route. Preparations will start along the route the day before, and once the roads are closed, the route will be inaccessible to all traffic. Pedestrians will be able to walk alongside the route during closures. The route will be fully accessible when the roads open again after the weekend of the Olympic Road Race.
Road closures
Saturday 28 July: The road closures will start in the very early hours of the morning across London. In Surrey, the section of the route from Hampton Court to Box Hill (including the Box Hill loop) will close from 4am. The section after Box Hill through Leatherhead and Esher back up to Hampton Court will be closed from 6am.
Sunday 29 July: All sections of the race route will be closed from 6am.The exit slip roads from both carriageways of the A3 to the A244 at Esher Common junction will also be closed all day Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July.
You can get travel advice and information here. For details of road closure, visit the Get Ahead of the Games website
Download a map of the Road Race route
Sign up for more information
Sign up now to receive dedicated emails on the Road Race and be first in line to get event updates, travel advice and other tips to help you make the most of your day.
In June we will be launching an interactive map which will provide further details on when to expect riders, spectator facilities such as cycle parking, and other information.
You can also download the official London 2012 Join In app – a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.
