Commemorative issue 1972 Summer & Winter Olympic Games
Cycling
The Olympic Games has cycling competition both in road and track events. The Union Cycliste Internationale, of which the United States was one of five charter members in 1900, governs all amateur and professional cycling events. More than 110 nations now belong. Parc de St. Cloud, France, was the site in 1868 of the first bicycle race. Recognized world championships were first conducted in 1893. The Tour de France is cycling's most famous international event. Major road races in the Western Hemisphere include the Tour du St. Laurente, the Quebec Montreal, the Coors Classic, and the Tour of Mexico. Track events, races on a specially constructed symmetrical and oval surface with two straight sections, include individual and tandem sprint races.