Simon Clarke predicts ‘chaos’ in Rio Olympic cycling road race after he replaces the injured Simon Gerrans

SIMON Clarke has warned riders to expect chaos in the men’s road race at the Rio Olympics after earning an 11th-hour call up to make his Games debut.

Simon Clarke will make his Olympic debut in Rio in place of the injured Simon Gerrans.

AUSTRALIAN cyclist Simon Clarke has warned riders to expect chaos in the men’s road race at next month’s Rio Olympics after earning an 11th-hour call up to make his Games debut.

Clarke was on Saturday officially unveiled as a replacement rider for Simon Gerrans who had to withdraw from Rio after breaking his collarbone in the Tour de France.

The 30-year-old Victorian who rides professionally for Cannondale-Drapac was part of a test event on the course in Brazil last year and said the peloton should expect the unexpected.

Clarke said he was ready to throw his full support behind Richie Porte who has shown outstanding form in the Tour de France, as Australia pushes for an Olympic medal.

“It’s going to be one of the most unique one-day races we’ve ever seen,” Clarke told News Corp from Andorra.

“To have such difficult cobblestones early on in the stage and finishing with such a hard climb, it’s going to be chaos.

“I think it’s definitely an advantage having seen this course and raced on it before the Olympics.

“I haven’t spoken (to national coach Brad McGee) specifically but I think we can all agree with how well Richie is going at the moment we need to throw 100 per cent support behind him.

“I’m there to get the best result for Australia, not necessarily the best result for me, and the best chance for that is supporting Richie.

Clarke has seen the Rio course and expects some drama on the day.

“And if Gerro was going it would have been the same situation.”

Having been part of Cadel Evans’ world championship win in 2009 and ridden all three Grand Tours, Clarke said he feared his chances of representing Australia at an Olympics may have passed him by when he was overlooked for selection in Australia’s original four-man team for Rio.

Clarke has won the mountains jersey at the Vuelta a Espana as well as the Herald Sun Tour overall. This year he rode the Giro d’Italia in May and last week finished the Tour of Poland in 25th on general classification.

“I was pretty philosophical about it, it was just more unfortunate than anything because Australia didn’t qualify maximum spots, we had four instead of five, and to lose one of those (spots) to the track ... it was a question in the back of my mind ‘what if, what if?’” he said.

“There’s been a bit of talk about the Japan Olympics (in 2020) going to be a flat course and I was worried if I didn’t make this, I might not make one.

“So I’m super happy — the Olympics is the pinnacle of any sport so to be selected in the team is unreal.”

But Clarke stressed that Gerrans had been the one who earnt the original spot and said it was unfortunate he would not be able to line up.

“I am super sorry for Gerro, it was his spot, although I’ve got a start it was his spot and you wouldn’t wish that on anybody,” Clarke said.

“So we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery and hopefully he’s back for the Vuelta.”

Clarke will race the one-day Classica San Sebastian in Spain on July 30 before joining his teammates in Porte, Rohan Dennis and mountain biker Scott Bowden in Rio for the 256km road race which starts and finishes at Copacabana Beach on August 6.

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Originally published as Simon Clarke predicts ‘chaos’ in Rio Olympic cycling road race after he replaces the injured Simon Gerrans