Cycling Mountain Bike at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Mountain bike cycling remained in the format that it had when it débuted at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with a single cross-country event each for men and women. The events were held in the man-made mountain biking course in Izu, about 150 kilometers (93 miles) south of Tokyo, which provided a 4 kilometer (2.5 mile) five-lap race with 180 metres (590 feet) of climbing. The course was dusty and perilous for the men, but rains helped even it out for the women’s event. Switzerland dominated the events, with the women sweeping the podium and Mathias Flückiger taking home silver for the men. Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock captured a surprising gold in the latter race, with Spain’s David Valero taking the bronze.