Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race

The men's road race was the only road cycling event on the Cycling at the 1896 Summer Olympics programme. The course was 87 kilometres long and the race was held on 12 April. Seven cyclists from three nations competed.[1] The event was won by Aristidis Konstantinidis of Greece. August von Gödrich of Germany took second, while Edward Battell finished third.

Men's road race
at the Games of the I Olympiad
Aristidis Konstantinidis
VenueAthens–Marathon
DateApril 12
Competitors7 from 3 nations
Medalists
Aristidis Konstantinidis
 Greece
August von Gödrich
 Germany
Edward Battell
 Great Britain
Cycling at the
1896 Summer Olympics
Road cycling
Road racemen
Track cycling
Time trialmen
Sprintmen
10 kmmen
100 kmmen
12 hourmen

Background

This was the first appearance of the event, which would not be held again until 1936 (though has been held at every Summer Olympics since then). It was an event of particular interest to the Greek hosts, as it followed the course of the marathon won by Spyridon Louis. Seven cyclists entered the event, including the German August von Gödrich, the British Edward Battell, and five Greeks. Battell, who worked at the British Embassy, almost did not get to compete; "[s]ome British officials attempted to prevent him from entering the Olympic cycling events on the grounds that his job disqualified him as a gentleman, and thus he could not be an amateur."[1][2]

Competition format

The race was on a course that covered 87 kilometres, running from Athens to Marathon and back. At the turn-around point, the cyclists had to "sign a document in the presence of an official, verifying that they had arrived there." The finish was at the velodrome. Officials were stationed all along the road.[1][2][3]

Schedule
Date Time Round
Gregorian Julian
Sunday, 12 April 1896Sunday, 31 March 189612:00Final

Results

Konstantinidis led from the start until after the turn at Marathon. His bicycle broke down on the return journey, allowing Battel time to pass him before he was able to get another bicycle and continue.[3] Both Konstantinidis and Battel fell again before finishing, with Battel's fall being severe enough to drop him from first place to third as both Konstantinidis and Gödrich passed him.

RankCyclistNationTime
Aristidis Konstantinidis Greece 3:22:31
August von Gödrich Germany 3:42:18
Edward Battell Great Britain Unknown
4–7 Georgios Aspiotis Greece Unknown
Miltiades Iatrou Greece Unknown
Konstantinos Konstantinou Greece Unknown
Georgios Paraskevopoulos Greece Unknown

References
  1. "Road Race, Individual, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. Official Report, p. 100.
  3. Wallechinsky, David (1984). The Complete Book of the Olympics. England: Penguin Books. p. 200. ISBN 0140066322.
  • Lampros, S.P.; Polites, N.G.; De Coubertin, Pierre; Philemon, P.J.; Anninos, C. (1897). The Olympic Games: BC 776 – AD 1896. Athens: Charles Beck. (Digitally available at )
  • Mallon, Bill; Widlund, Ture (1998). The 1896 Olympic Games. Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0379-9. (Excerpt available at )
  • Smith, Michael Llewellyn (2004). Olympics in Athens 1896. The Invention of the Modern Olympic Games. London: Profile Books. ISBN 1-86197-342-X.
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