Ultimate guide to cycling at the Rio 2016 Olympics
CYCLING is a traditionally a source of Olympic strength for Australia and the nation will again be strongly represented across all events in Rio.
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CYCLING is a traditionally a source of Olympic strength for Australia and the nation will again be strongly represented across all events in Rio.
From road racing on the first full day of competition to mountain biking on the final day, here’s everything you need to know.
WHERE AND WHEN IS IT?
Cycling competitions will be held across several venues. Track events are at the Rio Olympic Velodrome in the Barra Olympic Park with road race and time trial events held around Copacabana and Pontal. The BMX (Olympic BMX Centre) and mountain biking (Mountain Bike Centre) are both in the Deodoro area.
The road races (August 6-7) are up first, followed by the time trials (August 10), track (August 11-16), BMX (August 17-19) and mountain biking (August 20-21)
WHAT TIME IS ON IN AUSTRALIA?
Expect the men’s and women’s roads races to finish at about 5.30am AEST and time trials around 2.30am AEST. Track cycling morning sessions are held around 11pm-midnight AEST with evening medals session usually going from around 5am AEST to 8am AEST.
BMX events will also be on in the early morning AEST.
THE AUSSIE TEAM
Track: Women: Ashlee Ankudinoff, Georgia Baker, Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson, Melissa Hoskins, Anna Meares, Stephanie Morton. Men: Jack Bobridge, Patrick Constable, Alex Edmondson,
Matthew Glaetzer, Nathan Hart, Michael Hepburn, Glenn O’Shea, Callum Scotson, Sam Welsford.
Road: Men: Richie Porte, Simon Gerrans, Rohan Dennis. Women: Gracie Elvin, Katrin Garfoot, Rachel Neylan, Amanda Spratt.
BMX: Women: Caroline Buchanan, Lauren Reynolds. Men: Anthony Dean, Bodi Turner, Sam Willoughby.
Mountain biking: Woman: Rebecca Henderson. Men: Scott Bowden, Daniel McConnell.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?
Australia are always a force in Olympic cycling and the team looks to be building nicely towards Rio. The many strong medal prospects include Anna Meares (keirin), Annette Edmondson (omnium), the men’s and women’s team pursuit on the track, and Caroline Buchanan and Sam Willoughby in BMX.
OUR BEST SHOTS
ANNA MEARES
Already an Olympic great, Australia’s Rio flag-bearer Meares will make history be becoming the first Australian female cyclist to contest four Games.
A time trial gold medallist in Athens and sprint champion in London, Meares best shot at another gold in Rio could be in the keiren.
MATT GLAETZER
Glaetzer made his Olympic debut as a teenager in London and has since established himself as one of the star’s of the sport.
The 23-year-old is likely to ride in all three sprint events in Rio — the team sprint, individual sprint and keirin.
MEN’S TEAM PURSUIT
Australia won men’s team pursuit silver in London and they’re expected to battle reigning champs Great Britain for gold again in Rio.
The signs are good with Australia winning the event at three of the four world championships since London.
ANNETTE EDMONDSON
South Australian Edmondson won bronze in the Omnium in London and is considered a genuine gold medal contender in Rio.
The 24-year-old finished fifth at this year’s world championships, only two weeks after being involved in a serious road accident.
CAROLINE BUCHANAN
Buchanan has been dominating the World Cup BMX circuit and is the clear-cut favourite for Olympic gold.
The 25-year-old is being driven by disappointment in London four years ago, when she qualified fastest for the gold medal race but finished fifth.
THE WORLD STARS
CHRIS FROOME
Britain’s two-time Tour de France winner is gunning for Olympic gold after taking bronze in the time trial at London 2012.
Froome will be going for the double and the hilly road race course in Rio should suit him well.
BRADLEY WIGGINS
Sir Bradley already has an astounding seven Olympic medals and will be chasing more in Rio.
The 2012 Tour de France champion has stacked on 12kg as part of his transformation back to the track from road racing.
ANASTASIA VOYNOVA
Rising Russian star Voynova broke Meares’ 500m time trial world record last year.
The 23-year-old will be aiming for her first Olympic gold medal in both the individual events and team sprint.
WATCH OUT FOR …
Thrill and spills on the Rio road racetrack. It has a bit of everything — hard climbs, flat sections and 8km of cobblestones — which should make for action-packed racing.
Originally published as Ultimate guide to cycling at the Rio 2016 Olympics
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