Cassani predicts heat and climbs will produce a selective Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Italian national coach Davide Cassani has predicted that heat and humidity will be a decisive factor in deciding the men's road race event at the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo, with the climbs on the 234km course expected to reduce the race to final "head to head" battle.

Cassani is in Japan to see the course and decide on logistics, confirming that his squad will stay near Mount Fuji rather than in the Olympic village so they can be train on the course at the foot of the snow-covered mountain.

The routes of both the men's and women's races will favour the climbers, with the men's parcours tackling four climbs, including the outer slopes of Mount Fuji. As had previously been reported in the Japanese press, the women's course will be a watered-down version of the men's and misses the Mount Fuji loop altogether. The women's race will feature a total elevation of 2,692 metres during 137km of racing, while the men will tackle 4,865 metres of climbing.

ADVERTISEMENT

A shorter men's test event will be held next July.

The race profile includes five key climbs as the 234km race heads towards Mount Fuji and the finish in Fuji International Speedway circuit, from the start in Tokyo's Musashinonomori Park. The climbs start after 40km of racing.

The decisive point in the men's race is likely to be the Mikuni Pass. The 6.8km climb averages 10.2 per cent and touches and ends 34 kilometres from the finish.

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com