2021 Men's Olympics Road Race Race Preview
The details of this year's 2021 Men's Olympics Road Race are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The Tokyo Olympics road race promises to be one of the most grueling and unpredictable events of the Games, with a course that has been specifically designed to test the very best riders in the world. Starting in Musashinonomori Park and finishing at the Fuji International Speedway, the 234-kilometer route features a brutal final section on the slopes of Mount Fuji, with the iconic Mikuni Pass serving as the decisive climbing challenge before the summit finish at Fuji Speedway.
The heat and humidity of the Japanese summer will be a significant factor, with temperatures expected to be dangerously high. Riders will need to manage their efforts carefully throughout the day, and those who underestimate the conditions could find themselves in serious trouble. The thermometer is likely to read well above 30 degrees Celsius, and the combination of heat and climbing will make this one of the most physically demanding one-day races in recent memory.
Among the favorites, Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar arrives in superb form following his dominant defense of the Tour de France title. The young sensation has shown he can win on any terrain and in any conditions, and he will start as the man to beat. His compatriot Primoz Roglic will be desperate to finally claim a major victory after his heartbreaking losses in recent grand tours, and the two Slovenians represent a formidable partnership, though questions remain about how they will manage their racing as teammates.
Richard Carapaz of Ecuador will also be a major contender, having won the 2019 Giro d'Italia and demonstrated consistently that he is among the elite climbers in the peloton. He will have limited team support but his climbing ability alone makes him a genuine threat on the final ascent. Defending champion Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium is unlikely to repeat his Rio success given the climbing nature of this course, and the Belgian team will need to think carefully about its strategy.
Colombia will be another nation to watch, with Rigoberto Uran and Miguel Angel Lopez among their options, though neither has shown the kind of form in 2021 that would make them outright favorites. The Spanish team featuring Alejandro Valverde, a former world champion and one of the greatest classics riders of his generation, will hope the veteran still has enough left to challenge on the decisive climbs.
With the climbing profile heavily favoring pure mountain specialists, the race is likely to come down to a small group of elite riders on the slopes of Fuji. Whether the Slovenians can work together effectively, or whether one of their rivals can get away in the chaos of that final climb, remains the great question. What seems almost certain is that the winner will need to be both physically exceptional and tactically brilliant to claim cycling's greatest prize under the rings.
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