The women face the Grumari (1.2 kilometre at 7%) and Grota Funda (2.1 kilometres at 4,5%) before the 8.9 kilometres two stage ascent up Canoas/Vista Chinesa comes a steepest section at 11.9%. After the last peak a technical 6 kilometres descent takes the women to a flat section of 16.7 kilometres that’s leading straight to the finish line.
Obviously, one would say a select group is going to battle it out in the finale. Be it with a sprint or with a late attack.
Evelyn Stevens is in the form of her life. She took three stage wins in the Giro Rosa – a hilly stage, a time trial and a mountain stage. Megan Guarnier grabbed the maglia rosa without winning a stage, yet she was close to stage wins, too.
Favourites Olympic Road Race for women
*** Evelyn Stevens, Megan Guarnier, Anna van der Breggen
** Marianne Vos, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Giorgia Bronzini
* Elizabeth Armitstead, Linda Villumsen