Olympic Road Cycling Course | the Road Race in Rio de Janeiro 2016

UCI rules and regulations state that the maximum distance allowed for any one-day road race is between 250-280km for men and 120-140km for women.

Each nation can have up to five riders, depending on how many they were awarded before the Olympics.

In Rio de Janiero, the course for men will be 256.4km long, and 130.3km for women. Both will start at the world famous Copacabana Beach in the Brazilian city.

Olympic Road Cycling Course | the Time Trial in Rio de Janeiro 2016

In Rio de Janeiro, the Olympic time trial will be based around a circuit course that the men will ride twice and the women once.

As such, the distance of the cycle will be 29.8km for the women and 59.6km for the men.

Olympic Road Cycling Course | Time Trial: The Course Details

The UCI have confirmed that the Olympic time trial will see the road cyclists involved take on the Grumari Circuit also tackled in the road race, and so it will consist of:

• two climbs:
• Grumari, a narrow climb and descent in a forested area which averages 7% over 1.2km with a maximum gradient of 13%
• the Grota Funda climb which averages 4.5% over 2.1km with a maximum gradient of 6%;
• the circuit also includes a cobblestone section of 2km

Olympic Road Cycling Race | What They Say…

UCI President Brian Cookson was full of praise for the courses, saying: “The UCI has been working closely with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and Mayor Paes on the road race and time trial courses for some time and I am delighted that the routes have now been agreed.

“The road race mixes some of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic backdrops such as Copacabana and Ipanema with some really testing sections such as the Grumari Circuit and the climb up to Canoas/Vista Chinesa.

“The steep climb up Grumari Road, is sure to provide a unique test for time trial riders.”

Olympic Road Cycling Race | Can Team GB Win?

With both the time trial and the road races favouring climbers on this occasion, favourites will include the likes of Alejandro Valverde, Vincenzo Nibali and of course Team GB’s own Chris Froome in the men’s category.

In the women’s ranks, Team GB’s Lizzie Armitstead will stand a great chance, but she’ll have to overcome Netherlands rider Anna van der Breggen if she is to take the gold.

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