The Olympic Games road race may be eight months away but Great Britain’s elite road coach Rod Ellingworth, is already pondering the team's selection, with Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and a long list of riders all in contention for places.
Great Britain are one of just a handful of nations to have the maximum number of five spots for the men’s road race, while they have just one spot for the time trial, after missing out on a second place due to a disappointing showing at the World Championships in September. Froome, Thomas and national champion Alex Dowsett are all potential candidates for the time trial.
At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Great Britain’s men scored gold and bronze in the time trial, courtesy of Bradley Wiggins and Froome, although they missed out on a medal in the road race.
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The 2016 Rio road race and time courses are completely different to those raced in London, with much more climbing included. It means that the team's selection will be geared towards mountain specialists, while one of the five road riders will be handed the time trial spot.
Chris Froome recently accompanied Ellingworth to Rio and rode reconnaissance over the courses for the time trial and road race, and although the Tour de France winner is the favourite for the time trial spot, Ellingworth admitted that no decisions over selection had been guaranteed this far out from the Games.
“Were still working that one out. The course obviously leans towards riders like the Yates brothers, Froome, and Geraint Thomas, in terms of pure climbers. Then you weigh up how many workers you’re going to take," Ellingworth explained to Cyclingnews.
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