Paris Olympics: Montmartre cobbled climb key for securing cycling gold rush in road races – Analysis

The men and women due to compete in the Paris Olympic Games road races at the weekend got a chance to see the 18.4km finishing circuit, which passes the Moulin Rouge, Montmartre, and the Sacré Coeur church. They also got a taste of the city centre Parisian cobbles, which could play a factor in deciding the medal winners in the men’s road race on August 3 and the women’s road race on August 4. 

The cobbled climb from the Moulin Rouge to Montmartre and then the fast descent below Sacré Coeur are considered to be the decisive points in the race, where attacks could be launched, and groups get away before a fight for the medal at the finish line a few kilometres away, across the Pont d’Iéna bridge between the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro.