Around 500,000 people lined the streets of Paris during the cycling road race, organizers announced on Sunday, highlighting growing popular support for the Olympic Games. The event on Saturday featured cyclists navigating some of the capital's most picturesque streets, including the famous Montmartre hill, with the start and finish line set against the iconic Eiffel Tower.

A striking photograph capturing thousands of supporters on Rue Lepic in Montmartre has been widely shared on social media, drawing comparisons to a famous 1878 painting by watercolour master Claude Monet depicting popular fervour. "I don't know if it is an Olympic record, but there were 500,000 people along the route," Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps told reporters at a daily briefing, citing figures from the Paris police department.

France's strong start in the Games, which sees the host country third in the medals table, coupled with national pride in Paris's global showcase, is believed to be driving the enthusiastic support for the Olympics. Le Monde reported on Sunday about "the exuberant enthusiasm" on Paris's streets, noting that "since the opening ceremony, French people have had a desire to share in it, far from the image of a divided society."

"Fan zones" around the city have also been consistently full, with thousands cheering on new local heroes such as swimmer Leon Marchand and seasoned champions like judoka Teddy Riner. Television viewing figures for the opening ceremony on July 26 showed that 23.2-23.4 million people tuned in to live coverage on the France 2 channel—about a third of the country's population—making it one of the most watched events in French history.

The build-up to the Games had been marred by concerns over security, with France on its highest alert level for terror attacks, and complaints about disruptions to daily life in the capital. However, the Olympics appear to have brought a sense of unity and excitement to the city. Despite this, many wealthier areas of Paris remain quiet, with residents opting for their traditional summer holidays rather than staying to watch the sports.

In the race itself, Belgium's Remco Evenepoel overcame a dramatic late puncture to win the Olympic road race gold, adding to the thrilling atmosphere of the event.