Aussie road cycling berths for Rio Olympics won’t be decided by national title results
AUSTRALIA’S top road cyclists can send a message to Olympic selectors about their Rio ambitions but winning the national title will not guarantee them a team spot.
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AUSTRALIA’S top road cyclists can send a message to Olympic selectors about their Rio ambitions in Saturday’s national championships, but victory will not guarantee them a spot on the team.
Selectors are looking for strong performances in the early part of the European season before having to finalise the team for the Games by the end of June.
Cycling Australia is yet to be officially notified of the quota for the road component of their team but current rankings have it working toward four men and up to four women.
Only the top-five ranked nations on the UCI WorldTour at December 31 secured five spots for Rio de Janeiro, and Australia’s men finished eighth while the women have until May 31 to secure their best possible ranking.
A brutal course awaits both the men and women for the time trial and road races in Brazil in August.
The men’s road race is 241.5km long and finishes with three 25km circuits – each with an 8km climb – which follows 12km of cobblestones and a windy section along the coast. The women face similar challenges over 141km.
The time trial is 54.5km for men and 29.8km for women with one-two significant climbs awaiting both.
Australia may be able to field two starters in the time trial but they are likely to have to come from the four selected for the road race.
CA high performance director Kevin Tabotta said it will take either a cyclist coming out of the Tour de France in outstanding form or one who has specifically targeted the race to medal in the men’s road race in Rio.
“I would say the road race course is difficult to very difficult,” Tabotta said.
“(To win a medal) it’s going to take someone coming off the Tour de France who is able to maintain good form and physical conditioning and with a great capacity to climb and descend.
“Or someone who has had the ultimate preparation in targeting the event so there will be two groups of riders.”
While the road race and time trials at this week’s national championships will signal a rider’s intent for Rio, selectors will be looking at World Tour racing in coming months to determine the team.
Given selection must be made before the Tour de France, it means the Spring Classics, Giro d’Italia and races like the Tour of Suisse and Criterium du Dauphine may be crucial.
“The national championships have an impact in it’s the first indication that you’re interested in being part of the national team for the future,” Tabotta said.
“It’s a good early season sign of form for races such as the Tour Down Under, going into Asia and the Spring Classics.”
Originally published as Aussie road cycling berths for Rio Olympics won’t be decided by national title results
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