Rio

[AtiaoftheJulii]

Don't really have anything to say about it yet, but just wanted to share this photo!

[FelicityLemon]

That is an unusual way to introduce your Olympic team. I approve wholeheartedly.

[ThisPanCan]

Is this our "Her name is Rio and she rides her bike on the sands" thread?

[FelicityLemon]

I'm taking this as the official Rio cycling thread, so here's the course I have no idea who is going to win.

2012 Gold - Alexander Vinokourov; Silver- Rigoberto Urán; Bronze - Alexander Kristoff
2008 Gold - Samuel Sánchez; Silver - Fabian Cancellara; Bronze -Alexandr Kolobnev
2004 Gold -Paolo Bettini Italy; Silver - Sérgio Paulinho Portugal; Bronze - Axel Merckx Belgium

[ThisPanCan]

wow...it looks like a cardiograph and the patient was initially struggling but with a bit of samba they've recovered well!
Six hours in the saddle! 1.30 to 7.30. Mammoth .

[ThisPanCan]

Good to see the teams being led out last night by bikes too.

[lljkk]

Luckily they aren't swimmers or triathletes, being told not to open their mouths while in the water. Just have to deal with dodgy outdoor air which is bad enough.

[ThisPanCan]

fwiw there didn't appear to be a general OG thread for those who like it.

so here's one incl spelling error!

[FelicityLemon]

lljkk I have been guiltily following the apocalympics reddit sub

Zdenek Stybar shred this on instagram also www.reddit.com/r/apocalympics2016/comments/4wbrzd/it_is_raining_inside_in_the_czechs_part_of_the/

[FelicityLemon]

It's started and some of the jerseys (and sadly I have to say GB included are horrific), Denmark's however is gorgeous. www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1535/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-cycling-kits-of-rio-2016?_mout=1&utm_campaign=cyclist_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

And South Africa choosing to channel Phonak for those who remember twitter.com/LouisMeintjes/status/760931483183972353

[ThisPanCan]

This course looks extremely tricky doesn't it? The narrowness in parts, the cobbles, the dappled lighting, the kerb sides, so many cars/motos..

[FelicityLemon]

It's really winnowing them out. I hope the breakaway stays out to the end just to see the mayhem in the peloton when they realise.

[lljkk]

Nuts, no cycling on Red Button & I can't get BBC live feed to load. :(

[lljkk]

aha! Got feed now, wow, amazingly pretty scenery. Still 124 km to go, though...may doze off first.

[FelicityLemon]

Glad you got the feed, otherwise it's on channel 472 on Sky ( the start of the Olympic channel list)

[lljkk]

Me no havey no skyey.

However, the sky guys must be the English accent commentators I can hear in background when Brotherton/Boardman run out of stuff to say :).

[MrSlant]

Does poor Cummings get some kind of reward for being on the front so long? Why has Froome changed his bike? I am so glad you guys are here!

[ThisPanCan]

Not seeing the sense in Civil Engineer wasting himself on the front for so long.

[MrSlant]

No it's really annoyed me for some reason!

[FelicityLemon]

I think it was good of him to sacrifice himself for a team that dissed him originally. It annoyed me because its just a Sky based stitch up (though I may be biased because I am no great fan of Sky)

[MrSlant]

He's a hell of a man to do that for the team, well ALL the teams really. I have a bit of a crush .

[BestIsWest]

Just joining in here because I have never watched a cycling race before in my life but really enjoying this.

[ThisPanCan]

Crumbs!!!

[FelicityLemon]

Well Best you started on a high if this is your first race. Hope it will be the first of many and you will join us for the Vuelta. That was a most exciting one day race, I hope it becomes a proper race. Gutted for Julian Alaphilippe, but Greg was amazing.
Now I have just over an hour to watch some highlights of the Vuelta A Burgos before segueing into the Tour of Utah.

[lljkk]

Tomorrow is the women's road race, & Britain has 2 big hopes in there: Armistead & Pooley.

DH is chatting to someone who used to teach Pooley. :)

[MrSlant]

Oh gutted. So glad our boy finished though. Horrible downhill.