Great Britain have five spots for the men’s Olympic Games road programme in Rio, with one of those places for a rider dedicated to both the road race and the time trial. The selection process for the final five is already underway, with a long-list already compiled ahead of June’s selection deadline. Cyclingnews sat down with Rod Ellingworth, presenting a possible long-list for the British head coach to consider.
Rider: Chris Froome (Team Sky)
Possible role: Froome was the silver medalist in the time trial in London in 2012 and is the most likely and best-suited athlete for the road race-time trial combination in Rio. Great Britain only have one spot for the time trial, and although Alex Dowsett is a specialist in that department, the hilly Rio profile and Froome’s experience in peaking for July and then holding his form for the Games should give the Team Sky man the nod. His role for the road race is slightly harder to predict given his lack of results and experience in one-day events. However, if he comes out of the Tour de France in form and with confidence, he will line up in Rio as one of the bookmakers’ favourites. Whether he’s an actual favourite is another matter.
Chances of making the team: The defending Tour de France champion has already ventured to Rio in order to recon both courses and was accompanied by Ellingworth in November. Barring injury or illness Froome will be on the plane to Rio with his road and time trial bikes packed neatly in the hold.
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Ellingworth says: “He’s already thinking about performing in the Games. When it comes to pedigree he really rides Grand Tours and there’s not that many one-day races for him. Liège [Bastogne-Liège] is one but [Il] Lombardia comes late, and [Cláisca San Sebastián] doesn’t suit him with the finish it has. It’s hard to prove pedigree when he doesn’t race one-day races. I took him out there to see the road race and he wants to go and he wants to race the road race and time trial.”
Rider: Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
Possible role: The Welshman is behind Froome – and possibly Dowsett – in the time trial pecking order but he is one of the team’s best options and possible leaders for the road race. He focused on the track in London 2012 but his steady progression in one-day races over the last four years has been one of Team Sky’s rare successes outside of the Grand Tour arena. He can climb, he can read a race, and he has WorldTour one-day winning experience, not to mention a Commonwealth Games road race title. There is a long way to go until Rio but Thomas has the attributes to lead the team or play the foil for another rider.
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