Rio 2016 Olympic Road Race and Time Trial courses

[hrotha]

I disagree with the notion that trying to control this race is a good idea or even possible. Better to have an all-attacker team than three domestiques who won't be able to do much.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

I rather have Landa than Erviti.
Someone has to chase the break when the race gets into the climbs. Ion will not be enough.

Still Purito for sure will attack on the 60km out

I think there will be several teams prepared to chase the break in the mountains - Italy, France and UK all look particularly strong for that. And Valverde is pretty used to navigating his way to the front in classics, with pretty limited assistance from his team.

The danger is what happens if there are splits on the cobbles or on the flatter first part of the race. That's way more difficult to control with five man teams. At least if Valverde gets a puncture or somehow gets caught on the wrong side of a split, it won't automatically be race over with Erviti and Castroviejo there.

 

[Pippo_San]

A bit gutted Cassani discarded Brambilla and Ulissi.
Brambilla in particular had an incredible season both as a leader and a domestique. Italian rider of the year at the moment.

Anyway I guess he just wanted some people willing to sacrifice everything for Nibbles, and in that sense it's clear as hell De Marchi, Caruso and Rosa are pure expendable goats.
Aru is the distraction, Italy's going to give one instakill to Nibbles and that's it.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Pretty strong team, pretty much as expected with a heavy Movistar-flavour

 

[carton]

Seems like everyone but Colombia brought a sensible mix of leaders and rouleurs/domestiques. We'll see how that plays out on the road.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Don't be surprised if Purito is in better shape in Río then Bala.

But with 4 Movistar guys, they will not helping him. But if they want gold, they better should do. Or at least protect him as long as possible.

Well Bala isn't going to drop with 60km to go, they will escort him to the final, and Purito could benefit from that situation.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Vuillermoz replaces Pinot.

 

[TMP402]

https://twitter.com/Movistar_Team/status/754990046424469505

 

[LaFlorecita]

4 Movistars, poor Purito. I wonder if Alberto knew he wouldn't get a spot so just announced his absence as if it was his own decision.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

4 Movistars, poor Purito. I wonder if Alberto knew he wouldn't get a spot so just announced his absence as if it was his own decision.

Yep Purito will have to look after himself if he wants to medal at the Olympics, you might be correct about Contador aswell

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Vuillermoz replaces Pinot.

Vuillermoz is a good replacement, he's starting to ride into form at the Tour and the Rio course looks to be something he could do well on.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re: Re:

Vuillermoz replaces Pinot.

Vuillermoz is a good replacement, he's starting to ride into form at the Tour and the Rio course looks to be something he could do well on.

He also won the test race last year. So this seems like a good choice.

http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=151165

 

[snccdcno]

Kennaugh withdraws and Steve Cummings gets his wish

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20160719-gb-cyclingteam-news-British-Cycling-confirms-final-Team-GB-squad-for-men%E2%80%99s-road-race-in-Rio-0

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Kennaugh withdraws and Steve Cummings gets his wish

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/20160719-gb-cyclingteam-news-British-Cycling-confirms-final-Team-GB-squad-for-men%E2%80%99s-road-race-in-Rio-0

Correct decision from Kennaugh, must have been a hard call but he recognises he's not in the shape to contribute.

Cummings is a great addition to the GB team.

 

[BigMac]

Interesting.

Now KB can renew his BC membership.

 

[Anderis]

Is there a summary when I can find all riders already confirmed for Rio?

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Is there a summary when I can find all riders already confirmed for Rio?

I think they are all in the link below; some still provisional. It seems up to date because they've already removed Gerrans and have Spain's selection included.

http://www.cyclingstage.com/olympics-2016/riders-road-race-rio-2016/

 

[SafeBet]

Looking at the teams involved, peloton could be reduced to 80-100 riders quite early in the race. I think it will be impossible to control. Sensible tactic would be having a man in every move from 100km out.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Looking at the teams involved, peloton could be reduced to 80-100 riders quite early in the race. I think it will be impossible to control. Sensible tactic would be having a man in every move from 100km out.

Yep, especially with the first 150km being filled with cobbles and puncheur type climbs. If a group of the likes of Cancellara, Stybar, Vakoc, GVA, Kwiatkowski and Thomas manage to split the peloton and get in a break, who exactly is going to pull them back in?

It's a real shame Sagan isn't going. He would have set off fireworks for sure in that first part of the race.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

No more cobbles in any of the races.. UCI changed their minds and they just asphalt the hole thing...

 

[Jungle Cycle]

this is where it use to be cobbles...

 

[Gigs_98]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH
HOW STUPID IS THE UCI? HOW THE **** CAN THEY THINK ITS A GOOD DECISION TO DO THIS? DO THEY WANT A MORE BORING AND EASIER TO CONTROL RACE? WHAT ABOUT THE TEAMS WHO ALREADY SELECTED COBBLES RIDER BECAUSE OF THIS? SAID DIFFERENTLY, WTF WHERE THOSE DICKHEADS THINKING?

 

[Pippo_San]

Well UCI is definitely controlled by a bunch of smart heads am I right?
Anyways.
I think it's more related to the local Olympic committee rather than the UCI.

 

[hrotha]

It's ridiculous to change the course for anything short of force majeure this shortly before the race. What a farce.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

The UCI marshall(!?) here is a portuguese women... she is in charge and calling the shots of everything...