Detailed analysis of the 2016 Rio Olympic hard circuit (Part I)

We present in scoop for all the triathlon fans a detailed analysis of the circuit of the cycling sector of the Olympic Games.

The Triathlon test in Rio de Janeiro will debut this weekend in the Olympic Qualifying Event (Pre-Olympic) where the best triathletes in the world will compete to know what they will find next year and also to obtain the maximum possible points, because this competition is of Level I (It grants the maximum score, like the end of the WTS of 2015 and 2016)

In action we can see the Spanish "triamarda" with Javier Gómez Noya, Mario Mola, Fernando Alarza, Francesc Godoy y David Castro although they will be present in the starting line British Alistair Bronwlee or triathletes the likes of  Richard Varga, the Russians Polyanskiy y Vicent Luis among others.

In females Gwen Jorgensen head the departure list. with his compatriots  Sarah True y Katie Zaferes or the British Vicky Holland o Non Stanford. The female representation is formed by Ainhoa ​​Murua, Carolina Routier, Tamara Gómez y Miriam Casillas.

The circuit can be classified as "complete", it has everything: flat lines, tight curves, hard slopes, low technical and fast descents, so the shows is guaranteed.

After getting on the bike, the cyclists face a flat 1000m parallel to the coastline of Copacabana beach. After this first kilometer comes the first steep slope, 500m at a 12% slope, after reaching a very technical 600m (with curves to the left and right) of a descent at 8% followed by a wall of 200m at 20%.

After 50m of false level, it goes down again, this time 700m fast practically in straight line to the 8% until arriving at the level zone, will lack then almost 2kms parallel to the beach until completing the return. Each lap consists of 4,850 km and a total of 8 turns will be given. For each lap the triathletes must save 100m of positive height difference, which totalizes 800m of unevenness for the almost 40kms of the cycling sector.

Circuit description:

Important Note: For the realization of the present study, Google Earth data and several GIS programs have been used to perform the calculations. Keep in mind that the data has the errors of GPS measurements. At the end of the week when the information arrives from Rio, we will verify everything and inform you of possible errors.

Author: Juan José Martí Navio @jjnavio

Photo: Usa Triathlon