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Cycling is the sport of racing and controlling oneself while riding a bicycle. Olympic cycling takes place on a variety of courses, and the medal categories cover a wide range of skills besides raw speed. Naturally, there are also several types of bicycles used in these events, from mountain bikes to touring bikes to high-speed racing bikes.

History
Since the bicycle’s invention in the 19th century, there have been tremendous modifications and improvements to the initial design. Cycling is one of the few sports to have the distinction of being represented at every Summer Games since the modern Olympics began in 1896. There are distinctions for mens and womens events, although womens events typically take place over shorter distances.

BMX freestyle & racing
BMX bikes are short, study bicycles without many modern trappings like gear shifts or brakes. They are designed for extreme durability, because BMX races are only single laps around treacherous courses: it is up to the rider to be responsible for small changes in speed by simply pedalling faster or slower. BMX wheels typically measure either 20 or 24 inches in diameter, with the latter being the threshold for cruiser-class bikes.

BMX freestyle will be introduced with the 2020 Tokyo Games. It will likely be a point-based event focused on tricks similar to freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

Mountain biking
Mountain biking (often abbreviated as MTB, which can mean either the sport or the bikes themselves) is an exlusively off-road type of bike racing. Races are typically quite short in distance, at only a few kilometres, but the real challenge of the sport comes from the multitude of short climbs and uneven terrain the cyclists must traverse. Mountain bikes typically have larger wheels and lighter frames than BMX bikes, as well as more amenities such as hydraulic brakes and proper gear shift systems.

Road cycling
Bicycle races held on paved roads. Due to the more forgiving terrain, they are usually tests of endurance several hundred kilometres long, wherein competitors are confronted with harsh weather, especially if the race occurs over the course of several days (a stage race). Olympic races are not stage races, being split into an open road race with several hundred riders and a time trial where riders tackle the course in waves. There are also team categories for these events, where time is tracked by the slowest rider on a team.

The bicycles used for road racing are closest to what the layman thinks of when he pictures a standard bicycle, although professional cycles for this type of race are built to maximize the efficiency of the rider’s pedalling. The frames are very lightweight, and the brakes afford riders a great deal of control over exactly how much they want to slow down, if they choose to. The handlebar grips are also vertically oriented with trigger-style brake levers, which is different from mountain bikes. This style of handlebar allows the rider to put more weight onto his arms when riding, which means his legs can put all their energy towards pushing the pedals.

Track cycling
Track cycling is a specialized form of bicycle racing which takes place in a velodrome, which is a purpose-built stadium meant to accommodate track bicycles. Track bicycles themselves are single-gear bicycles with no freewheel mechanism, and no brakes: the rider must be pedalling at all times. Track tires are also much more durable than other bike tires, and are inflated to high pressures to minimize contact with the ground.

The actual act of track cycling is defined by speed and short distances; races do not typically last for more than a couple kilometres, and the riders can easily reach speeds that rival motorcycles thanks to the shape of the track. In some cases, winning sprinters can exceed 70km/h.

There are several categories for track cycling, and although not all of them have been present in recent years, every one looks to be represented at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
– Keirin: a sprinting race where the starting pace is set by a motorcycle, which leaves the track after the riders have gotten up to speed. It originated as an event for betting in Japan, but became popular for competitive reasons.
– Madison: a relay race event named after Madison Square Garden, where it debuted in 2000. Historically, victory was determined by sheer fortitude, because the winning team was whichever team rode more laps than the rest. As speeds increased, this has become less feasible, and the event is more focused on maintaining a fast pace throughout. It has also become considerably shorter.
– Omnium: a two-day event featuring six competitions. The omnium replaced various other Olympic events beginning in 2012, and currently includes a scratch race, individual pusuit, elimination race, time trial, flying lap (racing against the clock), and points race. Some events have smaller distances for women.
– Team pursuit: a type of race where the teams of three begin on opposite sides of the track. Times are measured by the front wheel of the last team member.
– Sprint (team and individual): individual sprints are common-looking races where each cyclist begins even with the rest of the pack and must be the first across the finish line. Team sprints are structured similarly to the team pursuit, except after each lap the leading rider exits the race, leaving his teammates to complete it.