12 Years Ago The Olympic Time Trial Took Place In Surrey

With the Paris Olympics Time Trial starting today (at the time of writing) I thought it apt to revisit the London 2012 Time Trial which started and ended in Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, and which saw Bradley Wiggins win Gold, and Chris Froome the bronze medal.

*Four men with BRAD written on their bare chests at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

With the riders crossing the Thames via the Hampton Court Bridge, and knowing that there would be loads of road closures to accommodate the race and the supporters, I opted to cycle to Hampton Court along the River Thames, at a rather more sedate pace than the competitors, but ti felt brisk to me!

There was lots of people vying for a glimpse of the riders with seemingly no limit to the extent they would go, which made for great reportage photography.

A woman climbing on street furniture — *A woman tries to get a better view at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

People on ladders looking over a crowd — *Spectators climb ladders to get a better view at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

People on wall pillars — *Spectators use vantage points to watch the race at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

There was lots of support for gold medal hopeful Bradley Wiggins with this shop changing it’s name especially for the race:

A shop sign with the name Bradley Wiggins — *A shop sign changed to Bradley Wiggins at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

And of course there was lots of flags and flag waving!

*A Union flag brolly at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A large Union flag draped between two sign posts. — *A Union flag with “Go Team GB” chalked on the ground at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A person draped in the Union flag — *A man photographs a person wrapped in the Union flag at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

Crowds waving Union flags — *Spectators waving flags at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

Man in Union flag hat selling Union flags — *A man wearing a Union flag motif hat selling Union flags, at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

For me the little cameos behind the scenes are always the best bits to photograph, and here are some of my favourite photos from this time:

A small child drags a bag of bread — *A young girl drags a bag of sliced bread behind her at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A radio reporter checks her equipment — *A BBC Surrey radio reporter checks her equipment at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A family sits under a brolly — *Spectators under a brolly at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A woman takes a photo holding a brolly — *A spectator takes a photo whilst holding a parasol at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A dog sitting behind spectators — *A dog sits patiently behind spectators at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

A photographer with two cameras, side by side — *A photographer takes photos with 2 cameras simultaneously at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

And of course I couldn’t share some photos of the Olympic Time Trial without showing some of the race itself, including the British gold medal winner, Bradley Wiggins:

Bradley Wiggins riding his bike — *Gold Medal Winner Bradley Wiggins Racing at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

Chris Froome riding his bike — *Bronze Medal Winner Chris Froome racing at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

Cyclist with hand out as he passes spectators — *Oliveira Nelson, the Portuguese cyclist, slaps hands with spectators at the London 2012 Olympic Cycle Time Trial, Hampton Court, Surrey, 01/08/2012. ©Douglas Kurn*

It was a great day out, and a great success for British cycling – let’s hope Paris 2024 is a good one too.

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12 Years Ago The Olympic Time Trial Took Place In Surrey

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