Rio TT preview: An honest course for the race of truth

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RIO DE JANEIRO (VN) — It’s an honest course for the race of truth, and there will be no hiding in the Olympics time trial. The difficult Rio routes utilize a hilly Grumari circuit from the road race and will produce worthy, well-rounded, highly-skilled winners.

“It’s a wild time trial course,” said U.S. hopeful Evelyn Stevens. “It’s got everything.”

“Everything” includes two tough climbs per lap, technical descents, and few flat or straight sections. The Grumari climb is 1.3km long at 9.3% and the Grota Funda climb is 2.1km at 6.8%. There is a series of smaller bumps before Grumari that will sap the legs. Women race around the circuit once, totaling 28.8km, and men will lap it twice, racing for 54.5km.

Grumari’s cobbles, at least, have been removed for the time trial. Riders will skirt the section on a 10-foot-wide paved path.

In keeping with the difficulty of Rio’s road races, the TT is a physical and technical test far more difficult than anything in recent Olympic history. Pacing and handling skills will be crucial, just as much as outright power.

And if the course itself is not enough, the weather forecast is calling for showers on Wednesday, which would turn the tricky descents even more treacherous.

So, who will win?

Women’s favorites

Dutchwoman Anna van der Breggen’s gold in the road race puts her at the top of the favorites list. She was second at the world championships last year and is clearly on flying form. She would become the first woman in Olympic history to win gold in both the TT and road race in the same Games.

Kristin Armstrong showed phenomenal form in the women’s road race, riding “like an entire team in one,” teammate Mara Abbott said. The defending gold medalist has been focused on this race all year, and …

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