It was an event of particular interest to the Greek hosts, as it followed the course of the marathon won by Spyridon Louis.

Seven cyclists entered the event, including the German August von Gödrich, the British Edward Battell, and five Greeks.

Battell, who worked at the British Embassy, almost did not get to compete; "[s]ome British officials attempted to prevent him from entering the Olympic cycling events on the grounds that his job disqualified him as a gentleman, and thus he could not be an amateur.

"[1][2] The race was on a course that covered 87 kilometres, running from Athens to Marathon and back.

At the turn-around point, the cyclists had to "sign a document in the presence of an official, verifying that they had arrived there."