Rio 2016 Olympic Time Trial and Road Race: route, map and schedule

Olympic Games 2016 cycling time trial

Women

Date: Wednesday, August 10

Time: 08:30-09:46 (local time) | 12:30-13:46 (UK time)

Route: 29.86km

Number of competitors: 25

Start list: Rio 2016 Olympic Games women's time trial start list

Result: Kristin Armstrong wins women's time trial; Pooley 14th

Men

Date: Wednesday, August 10
Time: 10:00-13:00 (local time) | 14:00-17:00 (UK time)
Route: 54.56km

Number of competitors: 40

Start list: Rio 2016 Olympic Games men's time trial start list

Report: Fabian Cancellara wins men's time trial as Froome takes bronze

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games time trial courses for men and women both start and finish in Pontal, and will use the Grumari Circuit that was included in the road races.

From the start, the riders head west along the coast before moving inland to tackle the climbs. The loop contains two significant ascents and descents: the Grumari climb (1.3km long at 9.4 per cent gradient average) and the Grota Funda climb (2.13km at 6.8 per cent average).

The women will complete one lap of the Grumari circuit to cover 29.86km in total, while the men will do two laps, making it a tough day out in the Rio sunshine for the time triallists over a 55.56km course.

It isn't a straightforward test by any means, and pacing will be key if riders are to keep something back for that final climb and then the flat drag back to the finish.

Olympic Games 2016 cycling road race

Men

Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 09:30-16:15 (local time) | 13:30-20:15 (UK time)
Route: 237.5km

Number of competitors: 144

Start list: Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s road race start list
Result: Greg Van Avermaet takes gold for Belgium

Women

Date: Sunday, August 7
Time: 12:15-16:35 (local time) | 16:15-20:35 (UK time)

Route: 136.9km

Number of competitors: 67

Start list: Rio 2016 Olympic Games women’s road race start list

Result: Anna van der Breggen wins women’s road race

Racing in national teams of up to five riders each, the 2016 Olympic Games Road Races have attracted a stellar field from around the globe.

Rio's route is tough and hilly, and favours Classics riders and climbers such as Alejandro Valverde (Spain), Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium) and Vincenzo Nibali (Italy).

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Odds for the women's race currently see the Netherlands' Anna van der Breggen installed as favourite ahead of Great Britain's Lizzie Armitstead.

The men will cover 237.5km in the road race, starting and finishing in Flamengo Park, as well as passing through iconic Rio locations including the Copacabana.

The peloton will take on the 'Grumari Circuit' four times during the race, which contains the 1.2km, 9 per cent average gradient Grumari climb and the 2.1km climb of Grota Funda which averages 4.5 per cent.

>>> 2016 Rio Olympic Games: Latest news, reports and info

There will also be a 2km cobble stone section on the course, though how much it resembles the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix wasn't confirmed (not that much we'd expect).

The most difficult part of the course is likely to come on the second circuit section called the 'Vista Chinesa Circuit'. With an 8.9km climb to tackle over three laps for the men, followed by a 6km descent, it's likely that this might be where the race is decided prior to a 20km flat run-in to the finish.

The elite women will do the same course as the men, but will take in 136.9km with two laps of the first circuit and one of the latter.

Brian Cookson, who was present at the unveiling of the courses by the IOC in Monaco, said: "The UCI has been working closely with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and Mayor Paes on the road race and time trial courses for some time and I am delighted that the routes have now been agreed.

"The road race mixes some of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic backdrops such as Copacabana and Ipanema with some really testing sections such as the Grumari Circuit and the climb up to Canoas/Vista Chinesa.

"The steep climb up Grumari Road, is sure to provide a unique test for time trial riders."

Alexander Vinokourov and Marianne Vos took the gold medals in the road races at the last Olympics in London in 2012, while Sir Bradley Wiggins and Kristin Armstrong took the time trial victories.