the finish was pushed to Copacabana because UCI didn't want no tunels in the final 10km. this makes a little closer to the last descent, wich is REALLY technical and steep.. VERY(!!) popolar done upwards around here..
3 things to consider;
1- the wind is 75% always in the same direction, wich is a head wind, coming from the 1st circuit, hard to be in the break until the final circuit.
2- the last circuit, with a "real" climb has a 2 step, 1st part(harder) was made by the likes of T. Pinot in around 13min, then a quik/sharp descent an then the 2nd part is much easyer, harder to gap/easyer to a Rui Costa/Vino like atack...
3- the 1st circuit will be the same as the TT and for that reason they will cover around 1meter width of the pavé section, wich is pretty bumby pavé...
btw 'we" are redoing the asphalt closer to the games in order to let it be as much new as possible. Right know the worse is at the bottom of the last descent..